What Is Fishing?

OK, I'm coming clean. I'm not sure if I'm a fisherman or not. I love to catch fish, but if I don't, so be it. I take off every Friday during fishing season to do my thing. I read all the fishing magazines and books, and quite frankly, I know I have the "fever". Yet, I'd rather spend an enjoyable morning on the pristene beach with my rod in a spike than navigating rocks, ledges and other obstacles in search of more fish. If I get home after 5 or 6 hours fishing (usually from dawn until about noon and sometimes early evening until just after dark), and don't catch anything, yes I'm a little disappointed, but I'm still usually content. Here's the scoop. I have a summer home in Ogunquit Maine which has one of the prettiest beaches in New England. By fishing the beach, I'm never more than a quarter of a mile from my car, close to restroom facilities (I usually wear waders) and near enough for my wife to join me when she gets down to the beach. I have no problem when the beach walkers ask me sensible questions. I usually bail out when the beach gets too crowded with swimmers. If things are really slow, I'll rest my sore back in a beach chair, but never more than a few feet from my spike. It's not that I don't catch fish. Last year I caught a fat 41" and just last Friday I landed one that was close to 37" (my only fish that day). However, for the most part I don't catch more than a few fish per day and I catch far less than the people who fish the rocky areas, go out late at night and never use sand spikes. So, am I a fisherman or not? Please, this is meant to evoke some discussion on this excellent board, not to create name calling and controversy as I see on some of the other boards.