Fishing and Real Estate - More Similar Than I Imagined

Fishing requires just the right pole, the right weights, hooks, bait, bobbers, hook pullers and all sorts of nifty tools attached to your fishing vest (according to my husband). Once properly outfitted, you head off to find the best fishing spot (which requires an understanding fish psychology) and determine which combination of the toolkit items will get the fish to bite.

At the end of day 1, my well-outfitted husband returns without a single fish - and pissed.  He said, "I could SEE them! They were swimming around the boat and jumping out of the water but they refused to bite.  They were flipping me off with their fins!"  I then asked, "Did anyone else catch any fish?".  It was a dangerous question if they had, but it was an unsuccessful day for all.  They did, however, all establish a comfortable sense of comraderie regarding their combined lack of results.

My husband doesn't fail well.  He tossed and turned throughout the night thinking of strategies to out-smart those darn fish and woke up early the following morning to completely change all of the doo-dads on his fishing pole.  As he went out the door, he pronounced that he would not return without fish.

In the middle of the day, my curiosity got the best of me so I took a hike to find out if he was accomplishing his mission.  I arrived at his normal fishing spot - no husband.  I hiked around a bit and saw other fisherman in their boats, talking across the water about the lack of fish.  Still no sign of my husband. 

I hike back around the lake wondering where the ranger station is located in case I need them to find a lost husband when - lo and behold - there he is! 

No boat, standing in the water up to the top of his waders, no other fisherman within calling distance for moral support and a look of intense concentration on his face.   Dare I interrupt? 

At that moment he looks up, spots me, gets a smile on his face and lifts his string of fish out of the water. 

By the end of the day, he had his limit and was practically a fishing hero because most ended the day empty-handed.  Interestingly enough, the other fisherman didn't ask him how he chose his new fishing spot or what doo-dads he changed on his pole, they attributed his success to luck. Sound familiar?