There are currently six other boats anchored here with me. Four of them are solo bachelors like myself, three young guys and another "viejo". The other two boats are couples, and like most of the boats that drop the hook here this time of year they plan to stay for a few days or weeks and then move further south.
I've initiated a weekly Wednesday night potluck and singalong for residents of the harbor. Since I've been here there has been one impromptu but tomorrow will be the first "regularly scheduled".
New Years I counted 18 sailboats and it was beginning to feel a little crowded. Most of them weren't here long enough to get acquainted. The cruising population changes from week to week but there will be overlapping stays and perhaps the weekly get together will stick and become my legacy.
There is one kid (28 years old is a kid to me) I've been hanging out with - Tom. He's on a classic wooden gaff rigged cutter, an Atkins design (which puts us in common as Liberty is an adaptation of a William Atkins design as well) that he inherited when a friend passed away. He doesn't claim ownership and in talking to him about his plans I get the feeling the boat is on its way around the world and Tom can come along if he likes.
Hippy would be the number one choice if we were playing Family Feud and the question was "What word did people use to describe Tom?" His face is unshaven and his hair is long and will become dreads if a comb doesn't pass through soon... and it won't because, like his boat, Tom is content to let his hair live autonomously.
My Mexican friends adopted Tom as they would anyone I call my friend. So far as I can tell "Any friend of yours is a friend of mine." is not just an empty sentiment here in Mazatlan.
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