Hautter

What time do you normally wake up?
Three days a week I have to wake up before 6 am to teach. Then, I go over to the office at 9 am and work very late. But I like to stay in bed late if I have the time.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
[Whistling and raising his brow.] I like to say that happiness is just a collection of beautiful moments that you can put in a box, and you can open this box when you are sad.

What is your motto?
I have seen a lot of people with problems. I try to become friends with the people I work with in the government. In 8 years, I have grown to know many of them. And when someone doesn’t show up or says they are having trouble in their personal lives, I say, “I have problems too, but I’m here.” That’s my phrase. Everybody lives their own hell, one way or another; it’s true. But it’s not an excuse.

What is your greatest fear?
My greatest fear is to end my life without being a person that everyone around me recognized as a good member of society. I don’t mean that I don’t like to make mistakes; that’s part of life. But I can’t imagine getting to the end of my life, my own life, without being a person who made a difference or who did some good. I would like to be useful for the people. (He pauses.) That’s my greatest fear. Even more than snakes!

Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I want to be as visionary as Alexander the Great, but as creative as Leonardo da Vinci.

What is your most valuable possession?
I don’t want to sound like a narcissist, but I read the memoir of a political prisoner once. In one of the chapters he said to himself, “They can use your body, control your body, but not your mind.” I think you can lose all you have, but no one can take you from you. The most valuable possession for me is myself and my mind and the freedom and liberty I have.

What is your favorite food?
I could spend the rest of my life just eating fish and shrimp. On the other hand, the pasta of Italy… mmmm.

What is your favorite restaurant within 15 minutes of your house?
Well, I haven’t been invited to the most expensive restaurants here yet. (Laughs.) I’m not joking! When you’re a local here, you sometimes don’t go to the best restaurants, because, you know, you’re not on your honeymoon. I do love La Dolce in downtown San Jose. That would be one of my favorites. But some of my most favorite places are small, Mexican places. I love the fish tacos at Rossy’s. I also live very close to Zipper’s. Actually, I eat very often there; I eat so often there, it must be very good, and the view is beautiful.

Can you cook?
No. But I’m very good with barbecues. I love barbecues. I am lucky, because where I live I have a very beautiful view to the ocean. So I really enjoy barbecuing for my friends and family when I have the time, outside, with a view to the ocean. And I’m very good at making guacamole. I really enjoy the whole process of grilling outside, enjoying the heat of the fire and the view.

In the entire world, what is you favorite place?
Paris. Absolutely. Everything in Paris was huge. Even the egos of the French, but I liked that part. The art, the culture, it’s all huge, the ego, the Eiffel Tower. Everything was full of life and light.

What’s your favorite bar to hang at?
Mandala is beautiful, and the service there is getting better and better. I have been back many times and I love it. And El Squid Roe. I love the style of Mandala, if you are coming with the right group of friends, but with El Squid Roe, you can go by yourself, and you will always have a great time.

What’s your favorite activity to do in Baja Sur?
Believe it or not, I love kayaking to the Arch. When I have the free time!

What’s your favorite beach in Baja Sur?
Sometimes I drive all the way to Los Barriles just to sit on the beach, to be alone, think and come up with new ideas. I also love the ocean in between Loreto and Mulege. That is one of the greatest places in Baja Sur. I really enjoy being a tourist in my own state.

What album would drive you the least crazy if left on loop for a year?
I would choose something retro. One of my favorite groups is Abba, so the “Mamma Mia” soundtrack is a great option. You can remember the beautiful Greek island and the color of the ocean by just listening to the soundtrack. Or “Grease.” Can you think of another Broadway musical that you can also hear at El Squid Roe?

What talent do you wish you had?
The ability to have an agenda. I don’t usually miss appointments or meetings, but I trust my memory too much. Our mayor Rene [Nuñez], he has so many gadgets, Palm Pilots and everything. And me, my schedule, well, I just write it on a small piece of paper or try to remember it. I am jealous when I watch someone with the ability to be organized with information. This is a beautiful ability of women, and so I admire men who have it, too. Women are naturals.

What’s your greatest regret?
Three or four times in my life, I have been very cruel to people just because they were in my way of achieving certain objectives. Letting the passion of the work become part of my personal life is not right, it’s something I have to change. Things are never as you plan them. In the government, that is especially true, and sometimes that is difficult for me. It’s hard to remember that everyone lives in a completely different universe outside of work. Sometimes I think that something is good for the community or the city, and I want everyone else to see it, too. But all the time, someone disagrees with you. There can be too much passion for your work. I must change that. OK, now I have to go make a few phone calls and ask for forgiveness from a few people!

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
Visionary. I wanted to say “dreamer,” but I want a word that means that I dream about things and make them happen. I was also thinking of workaholic, but that’s part of being visionary.