Ayşe and Mehmet Özbaşı, a couple who spent 40 years of their lives together in Söke, earn their living by fishing on Lake Bafa, where they sail by boat.
Ayşe (64) and Mehmet (65) attract attention with their hard work and attitudes that reveal their love for each other. The couple, who have two children and live in their modest house right near the lake, set out at first light.
Although it is difficult, the oars of the boat are entrusted to Ayşe, while Mehmet throws the nets into the lake and catches fish.
They generally earn their living by fishing for mullet, eel and sea bass. Ayşe, who fishes until noon, devotes the remains of the day to household chores, while her husband’s duty continues to sell the fish they catch.
They fish in the lake almost every day the weather permits. They say they aim to row together as long as their health allows.
Mehmet said that after his military service, he got married bought a boat and started fishing. Stating that working with his wife makes him happy, he said, “Actually, our job is not very difficult, but we are slightly affected by windy weather. It gets worse when water gets into the boat, then we do not sail.”
He added: “I love my wife very much. We wed, had our two sons and then were left alone. The issue of death is unpredictable, but I want to go to the afterlife before my wife. If she dies, I can never stay in the house. I can’t do anything without her.”
Stating that she ran away with her husband and got married, Ayşe stated that they have been living a happy life for 40 years. “I love him very much. If you don’t love him, you can’t make a living. There are worries about wealth and poverty, but our marriage went well.
“We married both our sons through fishing. We did it with the effort of our own hands. When we married our first child, we had a few animals and sold them. We were left with nothing. But we showed patience. We did not upset each other in these difficult times.
“We paid off all debt with 5 kilos of fish a day. When you are loving and respectful, everything will be fine. My husband does not get angry when I am angry. I don’t go after him when he’s angry. This is how marriages are made possible by establishing a balance.”
Photos: Ferdi Uzun, AA