Everyone.... I did not give the reason because I wanted my leaving to be semi-peaceful. I didn't want to hurt anyone and after trying to leave twice before, I thought I would try to make it short and sweet, because just as some of you noted, no one was going to believe it anyhow.
First off, the money that was donated is being held by KJUN in a gift certificate form. It is still with him, and my plan was to use it for a replacement milksnake for my daughter at some point at the end of summer when all the trips, wedding, confusion settles down and we can take care of it properly as it needs. I had looked at a female hypo boa that he had, but that is when I started to come to the realization of some things and let her go. Anyone who wants a refund, please PM me and I will give it to you myself. I don't say that rudely and wouldn't think any less of anyone who would want it back. If something changes at the end of summer and I don't plan on getting her a replacement snake, then I will make sure all the monies are completely returned to those who gave. I do appreciate what many of you did and it helped during that time.
As far as selling my collection, I never did that. I couldn't have sold most of them to begin with. They were like babies to me (most of them, a couple of them were not on a friendly basis with me, but even those I still cared for.).
Here is the reasoning in a nutshell and if you wanna flame me, flame away. I really don't care. I thought long and hard about this, agonized over it for weeks upon weeks, shed tears, and finally decided that it was the best thing for the snakes and for my family at the moment.
#1) Something died in my passion when I had that accident with the heating pads. Losing that many snakes .... just still can't describe it...or the smell... anyway, I still loved my snakes that I had, but something just wasn't the same. Can't explain it.
#2) most if not all of you know that I am getting married. Having two girls already, adding a wife and a son to the mix, there is no room. Absolutely no room. The soon to be wife told me before that if I like the snakes we would make a way and find a place for them, but I worked everything out to the best I could and there is no way there would be room for them all. So I was going to just keep the boas (my absolute fav), but you know, right now I could find a little corner to keep them in, but in 4 years, no way I had space to keep 6 full grown RTBs to the degree that I believe they should be kept. Yes, could have kept them in a stack of 6' X 2' cages, but to me that isn't fair to the snake. I could live in a closet if I had to, doesn't mean it is the best for me or comfortable to me. Now, I am not knocking anyone who keeps their boas in that size cages, I am stating why I made my decision based on my beliefs and what I wanted for my snakes.
Again the soon to be wife wasn't the cause of me giving up the hobby for now. She was very supportive and I didn't tell her until after, she was kinda upset because she knew how much I loved the snakes and wanted me to do what I like to do.
All in all, the snakes no longer fit (at this point) in what I need in my life. Does that make me sound like a horrible person? ....IMO, yes. I feel so crappy and hate myself in all of this, eventhough I still believe that find other homes for them was the right thing to do. I have the option of possible getting Boaz back, but as for now, we kept one snake in my daughters room and have a spot to add the milk when and if we get it. (which we plan on)
I still love herps and snakes and plan on possibly getting back in, when the time is right and life allows it. At this point though, this is what I need and need for the rest of my life. After losing my first wife, I found that I need that connection in my life. I found a great woman who loves and supports me for who I am, she is a great mother to my kids, and I love her kid as my own. That is where my focus is right now, I knew there was no way I could give my snakes the attention, care, or space they need. I did what I felt was best.
For those of you who will state that I am horrible or you don't understand how I could do such a thing...I made my choice based on what I felt would be best for my snakes. I was probably never that good of a keeper anyway...
WHen I started this thread, I didn't mean it was a complete never come back thread. I was hurting pretty bad at the time as Boaz had just left the day before and I was cleaning out his cage. I love you guys here and this site, but each time I come back, it stings. I see alot of threads and posts that I made referring to my snakes...
Anyway, I will be around, although not like before. For those of you I see on the other threads stating the trolling is getting out of hand... it seems these things go in cycles. trolling gets out of hand for a little and then works itself out or is worked out, and things go along fine. Still a good site here, still good people here.
Rev. Mojo, was disappointed I didn't get a good riddance from ya.
Oh, in the middle of all of this, the Orange Baboon Spider that you have heard me state is truly an Orange Devil, got stuck in midmolt and died. Just been a wonderful week in the neighborhood here.
