Tango and the Outlook on Life

One

Two FB friends, Oliver and Tony, are both great tango dancers. One left Buenos Aires to teach tango in the US, while the other left the US and moved to Buenos Aires to dance tango. They exchanged the following thoughts on the life of milongueros.

Oliver: "There is a big, big fantasy in many people's minds about the life of the milonguero. Many are in love with the fantasy of emulating this life, but maybe they don’t actually know what a milonguero is or what kind of life led them to this status. They didn't plan this life; it just evolved through their passion and their choices.

Imagine yourself as a 20-year-old going to the disco every night, hanging out with friends, trying to get that girl or boy you like, not caring much about getting a job, avoiding responsibility. Before you realize it, time has passed. You are no longer in your 20s but in your 30s, 40s, or even 50s - and still going to the disco every night. During these 30 years, you had to do something besides dancing. Maybe some of you chose to live with your parents (if they weren’t smart enough to kick you out), others took mundane day jobs or simple afternoon shifts just to earn enough to sustain the disco lifestyle. Some may have even considered other 'special jobs' - dangerous ones, quick money. There wasn’t always food on the table, and life wasn’t always simple. Promoters of the disco world saw opportunities to exploit these fanatics by offering more and more hours during which they could lose themselves in this dance. While others studied or built careers, putting their love of dance in perspective, you were - and are still - dancing or hanging out in this world.

When you reach 70, you've lived the life you chose. You didn’t plan to become a 'milonguero' - or, in this case, a 'discoero' - it just happened because of your choices. You simply lived! Had you known the outcome, would you have done the same?

There’s a fascination with milongueros in Buenos Aires. Unfortunately, time is the enemy, and most are now resting in peace. Looking back, the question for those who worship them is: would you actually choose to live the life they did? It's like being fascinated by the mafia world - would you actually kill someone or handle situations where talking is no longer an option? You can't be a tough guy without being tough. I heard someone say, 'I am living the life of a milonguero in Buenos Aires. I know the rules of the milongas, I know where people sit, and the icons of tango say hello to me.' But this is just the packaging, my friends, not the reality.

A milonguero is someone who spent their life at the milongas - dancing, chatting, hanging out, or just passing time. Some people have the sensitivity to see the milonguero as a result of life choices rather than a plan to become one. I’m not sure that every milonguero-wanna-be could make that transition consciously and pursue that status for the future."

Tony: "While I appreciate the metaphor - and even more, the American tendency to inappropriately romanticize the life of the milonguero - I ask that you consider an alternative scenario.

Imagine you don’t have the opportunities we have in the US… that your government is in flux and frequently reorganized by the military… that friends of yours regularly disappear, never to be seen again… that your economy periodically collapses and inflation is cyclical… that catering to tourists is your best economic opportunity… and that you both like tango and have the natural skill to support yourself through it.

Imagine that, over your lifetime, the safest and most reliable place in your world was the milongas.

How many American businessmen lie in a hospital bed after a heart attack, look around, and ask themselves, 'How did I end up spending my life this way? Working too many hours… my loved one is a stranger, if we’re not already divorced… I missed my children growing up because I worked too much… I spent my life, not with friends, but pursuing “financial security,” and in the end, I ended up here.'

Oliver, one thing we completely agree on: 'They didn't plan this life; it just evolved through their passion and their choices.' And with those choices, we must ultimately accept responsibility for the outcomes."

Two

While opinions differ on whether the life of milongueros is worth living, both perspectives are rooted in factual observations. This raises profound questions: How should we live? What defines a good life? Why are certain lifestyles seen as enviable, while others are not? And would public perception shift if dancing tango could lead to wealth?

From an early age, we are taught to study hard, work hard, and strive for wealth and success. This conditioning drives many to make the pursuit of wealth their primary ambition, employing every conceivable method to accumulate money. Simultaneously, the market bombards us with increasingly luxurious offerings, molding us into sophisticated materialists. We label this relentless drive "the pursuit of happiness" and tie it to Protestant ethics, crafting theories like capitalism, private ownership, individual rights, and economic freedom to justify our greed. Yet, no matter how we rationalize it, the sobering reality is that many of the world's modern problems—such as intense competition, chronic stress, predatory practices, monopolies, gun violence, doping, human trafficking, wealth disparity, political corruption, environmental degradation, and economic inequality—stem from this unrestrained pursuit of wealth (see Mammonism).

Any reasonable observer can recognize that an unchecked obsession with wealth is unsustainable. Earth's finite resources cannot support extravagant lifestyles for eight billion people. These natural gifts, meant for all, should be used judiciously, prudently, and equitably—not exploited for personal luxury or wealth at the expense of the environment and future generations. The notion that resources exist solely for individual gain contradicts the principle of human equality, which we profess to hold as self-evident.

A truly civilized society should champion values such as thrift, simplicity, equality, sharing, and cooperation, rather than luxury, greed, competition, and monopolization. It should discourage the accumulation of unlimited wealth by a few and instead cultivate a balanced outlook on life—not the so-called "philosophy of success." Such a society would foster small, diversified economic systems that promote both environmental sustainability and social equity, rather than enabling corporations to become so dominant that others cannot compete. It would provide everyone with a fair platform to collaborate toward shared goals, rather than allowing a privileged few to profit at the expense of the majority. Moreover, it would reform democratic systems to prevent the undue influence of money on policymaking, rather than deregulating political contributions to favor special interests.

Three

Recently, a story with deep meaning circulated online: An American businessman sat on a pier in a Mexican fishing village, watching a fisherman pull his boat ashore, carrying several large tunas. After complimenting the fisherman, the American asked, "How long did it take to catch these?" The Mexican replied, "About an hour." The American asked, "Why not catch more?" The Mexican responded, "These are enough for today." The American asked, "What do you do with the rest of your day?" The Mexican replied, "I sleep until I naturally wake up, then I fish for a little. When I return I play with my kids. After lunch I take a nap with my wife, and in the evening I go to the wine shop to drink and play guitar with my buddies. My life is busy and fulfilling." The American said, "I have an MBA from Harvard. Let me give you some advice. If you work more hours each day, soon you could buy a bigger boat, then more boats, and hire people. Then you could open a processing plant and eventually expand to Mexico City, Los Angeles and New York City. This way you could make a fortune." The Mexican asked, "How long will that all take?" The American answered, "Fifteen to twenty years." The Mexican asked, "What happens after that?" The American answered, "Then you can retire, sleep until you naturally wake up, go catch some fish, take a nap at noon, and have fun in the evening." The Mexican laughed, "Isn’t that what I’m doing now?"

This story highlights two contrasting life philosophies. Whether it celebrates the American’s ambitious vision or critiques his shortsightedness, whether it rebukes the Mexican fisherman’s perceived lack of ambition or applauds his natural wisdom—the interpretation depends entirely on the reader. Some might view the fisherman as a lazy idler, lacking motivation. But is that truly the case? If his philosophy of "enough for today" were adopted universally, how would our world change? Would we experience less competition and more harmony? Would life be less stressful and more joyful? Would we see a reduction in greed, waste, corruption, and harm, replaced by simplicity, honesty, contentment, and goodwill? Wouldn’t the skies be bluer, the waters clearer, resources more abundant, and ecosystems more balanced? Wouldn’t the world be more peaceful?

In my view, the crisis of the modern world doesn’t stem from the Mexican fisherman’s simple approach to life but from the American businessman’s relentless pursuit of wealth and the materialistic concept of happiness. Tango dancers seem to understand this wisdom. They embrace a lifestyle centered on connection, affinity, and harmony, rather than material gain. Many even follow in the footsteps of the milongueros. I know several individuals who left lucrative careers behind to move to Buenos Aires and immerse themselves in tango. Their choices suggest that while money may be necessary for happiness, it is far from sufficient. True happiness lies in the contentment of the soul.

This wisdom is not new. Throughout history, great thinkers and simple souls alike have embraced the value of a simple life. Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu championed simplicity, detachment from worldly success, and a return to nature. Tao Yuanming left a government position to find peace in rural life. When asked about the ideal home, Pittacus of Mytilene famously replied, "It has neither luxury nor lack of necessity." Even Forrest Gump reflected, "There’s only so much fortune a man really needs, and the rest is just for showing off." Yu Juan echoed this sentiment: "Being with the ones you love makes even a humble home feel warm." These individuals, like the milongueros and the Mexican fisherman, preserved the essence of humanity, refusing to become slaves to wealth.

I believe the world needs more people like them. Our planet simply cannot withstand the devastation of materialism any longer (see The World Needs a New Philosophy).