Over the last few years, whenever I talk about moving to Corsica with my "North American" friends, almost all of them reacted the same way.
"Why on earth would you move away from the gloriously bustling metropolis of Vancouver, a world-class city of staggering beauty, wealth, and activity (and host of the upcoming 2010 winter Olympics)… to Corsica?
And then I get a blank stare, as I realize the question is actually serious and they truly do not understand why I’m still here.
Until now, I typically use the same one-word reason as my response.
But now… some good news! I just came across a written story which so nicely illustrates my desire to live in a place away from the "hustle and bustle" of city life that I could not resist breaking my 1.5 year hiatus from this blog.
The story is a little long (sorry Jeff), and the point is somewhat subtle (sorry everyone else)… but I’m sure with a little help you can figure it out. Ask me if needed.
The Canadian investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The Canadian complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, "Only a little while." The Canadian then asked, "Why didn’t you stay out longer and catch more fish?" The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family’s needs." The Canadian then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?" The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."
The Canadian scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat: With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."
The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?" To which the Canadian replied, "15 to 20 years." "But what then?" asked the Mexican. The Canadian laughed and said that’s the best part. "When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions."
"Millions?…Then what?"
To which, the Canadian replied, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."
And that, my friends, is why I’m still not back in Vancouver. 
