Well, I had planned on just fading into the background and leaving the site, but I figured with the friendships I have made here, I at least need to give some type of explanation. This actually has been a long time coming, but this isn't one of those "I am ticked and firing a parting shot" goodbyes. I am leaving with no ill feelings toward anyone on here, and actually this is a sad and very hard thing for me to do.
As many of you know, I came here after I got into snakes when my wife passed away. It was a time when I was hurting and needed some comforting friends I could rely on who would just take me as I was and not expect more. I really found that here. This site helped me get through some really rough times in my life and I honestly count the friends I have made here as good close friends. I have been an active member of 5 different herp forums and 2 other arachnid ones and RTB has been the place where I feel at home.
But life has a way of moving and I have what I would call an addictive personality. Right now, this site is taking up way too much of my life. Other things have been suffering due to it. I am a single dad, I pastor a church (yes, I know shocking to some of you), I have almost 30 snakes to care for (see the addictive personality type thing there...), I have started a new relationship with a wonderful woman that has great potential to become a permenant situation. There is just too many demands. I have tried to cut back on site time, but I know me, I need to go cold turkey on things or else I can't beat it. So after agonizing self-debates, I gotta leave here. Maybe in awhile I can come back and not be in the same situation I am in now, but for now, too much of real life is suffering due to the way I am on here.
I want everyone to know that everything I have said on the forum was made is fun. I hope I never offended anyone, except for those of you that I meant to offend. But I had some great times here. I haven't always been proud of the way I have conducted myself here, there have been times when I have said things that I should not have. for that I am not proud, but am thankful that you all have been here to be my friends and support me.
I'll probably be around for the next few days on and off just to tie up some loose ends with people and say those more proper goodbyes in person, but eventhough I am leaving it doesn't mean that I don't want to hear from you. As I said, I have made some wonderful friends here. You can still contact me through my info on my profile here, or through YIM. Louise and Stargazer and a few others know how to contact me as well, so check in with them if you need something.
Some quick personal notes:
Louise: Thanks for all that you've done for me on the forums. Another time, another place or world, and I think I would have been the fat, bald guy you would have moved in with.
(chill there Brett, you know I am joking) Love ya Chance! you hang in there big girl!
Stargazer: Actually, I am going on a quest to find that faux snakeskin leotard; when I find it, I'll be back. Don't fear that gorilla, I think you can take him.
Jem_Scout: Dove, my once-partner-in-crime...lol, --- sorry things turned out the way they did, we had lots of laughs together. Poor Soberguy!
Natas: Thanks for putting up with all my crap! You know those phone conversations we a long time ago really impressed me. Good luck with the wedding, many years of happiness.
Morti: Thanks for all the knowledge and patience you have given.
Sam: my latest thread buddy! see ya around YIM and myspace. Love ya Sammy!
Lucille: LOL, lots of laughs. Take care Lucy.
Ice, Spix, and the rest of the latest crew...take care and have fun!
I could go on and on with people...Dank, Aaron, MPGT, Owen, RTM, Adrya, Reptscue, etc.... so many of you have really made this place a great place. Don't think just because I didn't mention you that I don't care about you. I could fill a thread with those names. Take care.
One last thing before I go...a recap of some of the highlights that pop into my mind, as I was thinking of all of you:
1) Louise and mine marriage thread! Classic!!!!!!!!
2) "For Stargazer" thread taking number 1 spot and still going strong!!! whoo hoo!!!!!!!!!!
3) Jem and I being banned from the vPlaza for awhile due to a whinning Soberguy (okay, truthfully, we were being mean, but it was so funny!)
4) all those late night YIM conferences with the old crew -- Jem, Kat, Louise, Aaron, Rick, Brian, and a few others I don't remember...
5) The time Jesse started RTC and Louise and I joined as one of the first few members to that virgin site... I joined as
Natas and Louise as Revmojo. LOL!!! We offered to sell Jesse the RTB logo for his site, which he thought was really Shane and then we turned around and insulted his site. Which prompted him to ban us from there, still thinking that it was really
Natas and Revmojo, so he came back here and started insulting RTB on a thread because of certain sponsors, which left everyone here wondering why he flew off the handle like he did. LOL, I am almost peeing myself just thinking about it again. All done in good fun. Not sure if that is even public knowledge, .... confession time!!!
6) Avatar wars and the Fruit Wars....lol, fun.
7) There is so much more I could add, but it may reveal too much for some of the members that are still here, just know I look back fondly on the times I had with all of you and also, thanks to those members who have contributed to my knowledge of the husbandry of herps and the care of my snakes.
Love ya guys...thanks for everything. Take care and God bless
Scott
