In Turangi, all we really worry about are the winter spawning runs and anything affecting them, like floods from the wet weather pattern, etc. All that other stressful stuff that goes on in Wellington and Auckland is like riots in Paris – it is in another world. After having it so easy and thriving for so long in Turangi, we cannot imagine it. We realise we are in danger of taking our stress-free lifestyle too much for granted, so appreciate regular frowning concerns and grizzles from visiting inmates, if only to remind us how lucky we are. Turangians cannot imagine the mental pressures from hopeless traffic congestion and increased drive-by shootings and feral kids’ out-of-control into thieving lawlessness and ram raid violence and associated fears with the emotional stress that city dwellers have to live with. In Turangi, a missing bike is a major crime.

No wonder so many inmates enjoy their best night’s sleep in years at TRM. It is all about totally relaxing. Life sucks a lot less when all the stress related problems are absent. How can we suffer stress from congestion worries from no traffic lights and only two roundabouts? A stroll nearby along the Tongariro River Trail removes any anxiety. Everything we might need is within 5 minutes easy level walking distance across an attractive park to the town centre (CBD) shops, various cafes, supermarket, Post Office, library, Medical Centre, chemist, tackle shops, pub, etc. Bliss!

We were reminded again this weekend when an inmate suffered a severe medical emergency late at night. We were woken by a courtesy telephone call from someone to let us know their friend had suffered a fall. By the time I got dressed, two Ambulance staff were already treating him. By the time I made a cup of tea six burley men from the Fire Rescue team were carrying him unconscious on a stretcher into the Ambulance and he was in safe hands on his way to Taupo Hospital. The next day some other kind inmates drove his abandoned vehicle with all his fishing gear etc. to his relatives in Taupo.

Everything worked tickety-boo, the way it is supposed to. On behalf of our guest/patient, thank you to all the emergency services; we are so grateful.

This was not the first time we have been amazed and so thankful at the super efficient level of emergency services available in a small village of less than 3000 permanent residents. I suspect we might be over-represented as they are needed more often due to the close proximity of three National Parks and the Ruapehu ski fields and vast wilderness areas. But it is comforting to know that when emergency services are urgently needed, they are available and they are so efficient.

It reminded us of a previous TRM blog, repeated below:

Tongariro fishos behaviour trends?

When SWMBO retired (?) into a motel in 2004, to focus on trout fishing, we noticed that when guests arrived their first priority and urgent questions related to fishing – “which pool”, “which fly” etc. All the prospective inmates needed was an urgent update of any river changes and where the last big trout was caught and they were happy-as. We could manage that. They were easy to please.

After a long drive to get here, they like to sit down and discuss their problems, get it off their chest so to speak. We encouraged it too as they kept us up to date with current issues that we might not have realised – i.e. traffic congestion causing delays increasing the time taken to get here… (There were no potholes back then!)

These stress inducing problems are often not reported adequately or considered important as they do not exist in small towns. In our cute little village we can easily slip behind in ignorance of the latest big-city issues like drive-by shootings or ram raids. We could feel so left out of it.

Then, after about ten years, a noticeable shift in their heartfelt concerns became evident.

Nearly all the fishos were aging fast. Physically they were fading. Panic set in. The worse their medical condition, the more they wanted to fish. Even their sanity was at risk. It was no longer a young man’s sport. Most were retired or looking at trout fishing for their retirement. Their hopes and dreams of landing a trophy trout were all that was keeping them young at heart, if not in body.

Then their first comments changed the topic completely as they confessed their latest medical report – new knees, new pacemaker, replacement parts all over, etc. Their most important concerns had changed with ageing. As we were of a similar ancient vintage (I am up to my fourth replacement ankle) we understood their concerns. They had to adjust their fishing style and control their previous wading habits to match their physical limitations. Even their casting technique was altered to make the rod do the work, instead of straining their arm and shoulder and back… But then their priorities altered again.

Now, in the last two or three years, another major alarming shift became apparent. More recently they don’t bother to ask about the river pools or which flies or dare to mention any medical issues or they have to endure more stories about new ankles. A much bigger problem arose. Their initial outburst of frustration developed into a much more aggressive stance. Alarm set in. (As I now also have hearing problems and cannot hear half of what they say, we often have the most interesting conversations.)

Perhaps because they had more time in retirement to think about everything, their worries and deep anguish had moved into the political arena! To add to their urgency, fears of covid made them more stressed than ever. Tongariro anglers always have to have a most optimistic outlook but lately they arrived depressed and full of gloomy predictions. They were so desperate they asked me what on earth is happening to NZ. Wherever they turn, they discover a messy disaster! It smells of corruption. Or a conspiracy. How did we let it happen? They anxiously demanded to TRM, asking “what can we do about it?”, as though it was our fault. They have had enough.

SWMBO had to find an answer quickly, as having happy inmates is soooo important for us to enjoy our lifestyle – before we are forced to retire. (SWMBO is still far too young.)

To our shame, they have also learnt that Turangi is one of the first to embrace the challenging new co-governance structure. They interrogate us, what did we do about losing our fundamental democratic rights? They claim democracy is now dead in Turangi. How can it work? Will Turangi survive?

Somehow SWMBO is supposed to have sensible logical solutions for these frustrated inmates. We have a deliberate policy to respond as little as possible, to avoid joining them in their despair as it is so easy to fuel their anger. So, using the advantage of a long apprenticeship experimenting and sympathising with their ever-changing deepest concerns, at last TRM have the answer with a basic simple recipe to overcome their fears and respond responsibly to their demands, to reduce their stress levels and help them to relax and laugh again.

GO FISHING!

OK? That is all we can offer. If anyone has any better solution then we would love to hear about it. It might seem pathetic or too simple but we know it works. After a few days of wading or patrolling the Tongariro Pools, losing monster trout and landing the odd trophy fish, the happy inmates relax and forget all about the issues that were keeping them awake at night. We enjoy seeing all the stress and mental pressures just float away down the river. The twinkle in their eye returns and despite carrying a couple of heavy prime trout, the bounce in their step is back.

Then they dread returning to where they know all the problems increasing stress will resurface with a vengeance.

So they return more often and stay fishing longer.

Here endeth the lesson.