I heard in a meeting from a more experienced 'Puddle Jumper' than we are, and I quote.... “Going where people only smile" Now that... is a really exciting thought.~~~ (Imaging life going by where everyone smiled). I have been thinking about this ever since I heard the phrase, and wondering why. This business, of people only smiling day in and day out almost warrants making the list a wonder of the world. Surely it could be listed as a No. 8 - 'Natural' wonder.
I think that it is the 'tick of time' that winds everyone up, to the point of wringing that last grin from our faces. Over here in Mexico where the favourite saying is "Manana". Translated = 'maybe someday' and the 'maybe' is used loosely, and yes... the 'someday' speaks for itself.

For me, know it is February opps March, but as for the day, date, and on many occasion the time has become less and less relevant. Over here in the marina, and I dare say in the French Polynesia they/we now only talk in 'Seasons'. There are only 2. So that immediately makes life less stressful. There is the season when you sail and the season when you stay put.
Here the Mexicans smile a lot also and are extremely helpful, no matter what dirty, crammed, or high flying, near impossible job you have got for them to achieve. Then again it could be that they know they will never see you again, so weather it’s fixed or not it’s ‘adios amigos' and good luck may be behind that smile. I know I would be thinking that with some jobs if I was them. But using house paint instead of anti-foul paint was definitely cost cutting and cheating the system!
But really most trades and services here are awesome and the prices cheap! Worthy of every cent we pay. The Taxi driver (Rafael) drives you any distance to the supermarket both near and far. He then waits patiently no matter how long you take. His little face shows up at the exact checkout you go to, then you find he is overseeing that the items are packed correctly. He insists on placing the bags in the trolley ...and insists on wheeling it out... and unloading again when we get to the car... and then again when you get your marina trolley! I looked behind me to see if he was following because I could have done with a hand up and over the rail and down into the galley, but no he was on his merry way to drive another yachtie somewhere. Not that time was an issue, just she was there.
This is not random service with a smile.....The boy in the bike-hire shop; I didn't even buy my bike from him. He has been very generous with his time. Firstly, he sold me that cool seat for only 50 pesos, (less than $5) and then graciously fitted it for nothing. A day later I had the gall to swing by for another simple issue. Yet again - no payment required, he just smiled! See what I mean - how good!
The only way for this phenomenon to make it across the Pacific to Australia might be to abandon that ticking clock ...........perhaps I should just go visit where these Polynesian people only smile and do some more research.
Stand by……oh!
Make that 'manana' . 😁