This week we’re holding our first company retreat. The Tenkara USA team is mostly virtual and we don’t always get to see each other and talk in person, so I decided we should get together. TJ flew in, John hitched a ride, and our Luke arrived last night. I didn’t really develop an agenda for what we should discuss when here, all I knew is that we should go fishing. And so we have spent a big portion of our time hitting different streams nearby. And, you know what? streams work wonderfully as an office.
Three years ago I was gifted two authentic tenkara bamboo rods; I’ve had them displayed in the tenkara museum but because of their irreplaceable nature I have not taken them out. The staff encouraged me taking it out, and I’m happy I did. It’s not the most practical tool, but it was fun to try it out and officially make it a fishing rod.
We were searching for tenkara this whole weekend, may have found a portion of it by sharing a good time and watching each other fish. In fact, I think a part of what makes tenkara “from heaven” is the companionship that comes with it, and watching someone fishing and cheering when he catches a fish, is a feeling I want to feel more often.