How I came to have my pets. Warning: Emo Inside

[Soterios]

I figured with all the threads about why you own snakes, I thought I'd share how I came to have the animals I do. I apologize for it's length.

When I was three, I got my first pet. I was playing outside, saw a snake (garter) and chased it around until I caught it. I put it in a bucket, put some grass in it and ran home. My parents said I could keep it. I named him Sammy.

Sammy was the start. Over the years I had a few other pets. A few newts here, some anoles there, and an albino rat snake. When Sammy died when I was twelve though, it broke my heart, and I lost most of the interest I once had in owning an animal.

Flash forward about ten years. Without going into great detail, I found myself rather promiscuous (as most 22 year old men are) and wound up getting some rather frightening news. A girl I had seen a few months earlier had an abortion. A combination of wanting to get away from all of that, and a general unhappiness with my current situation, I did the cowardly thing, and ran away from my problems.

I moved 1500 SW to Arizona. My friend had a room here and it seemed like a nice place to live. Still reeling emotionally, partying became my pastime. Most of my paycheck went to drinking and going out, and I toddled along for about a year as a pathetic waste of space. I woke up one morning next to someone I didn't know, in my apartment, after a night I was supposed to drive. The realization that I drove home drunk enough to not remember was a real eye-opener.

So I threw out what booze I had left in the apartment, and decided to sign myself up for a way to turn myself around.

I made the best decision I've made in years. I picked up an Albino California King snake. Spending time with it and taking care of it allowed me an outlet for all things problematic.

Since turning to snake/pet ownership as my in house hobby, I've greatly improved my financial situation, bought a house, gotten back in shape, and have been sober for almost 18 months. I feel like I've really started doing something with my life.

I feel like my snakes saved my life.

Thanks for reading, sorry for the emo story.

What have your snakes done for you.

[Pandora]

Wow. Thank you for opening up like that; and most importantly, congratulations on your sobriety and making the decision to turn your life around.

I guess I should share that when I overcame my battle with bipolar depression, I started finding things to do and keep me occupied to avoid being caught again in the undertow and among all my other interests and hobbies, I took up Ball Pythons =]

I've definitely grown attached to them, made friends of them and learned a lot about their natural instincts and ways of life. I love observing their movements and realizing how connected and serene nature and life's miracles really are.

[Soterios]

Thanks. I can understand that. I have diagnosed anxiety and depression. The snakes are defiantly a great outlet for stress. They're too much fun.
Love in all forms. Friends, Family, and my babies

[Clyde Frog]

Both very amazing stories. I personally came into BPs as an outlet from life. Lol. Its nice to come home to something that doesn't say the wrong things to you and doesn't talk, just listens after a hard day of classes, work, and everyday city-people interactions.

[Pandora]

Its nice to come home to something that doesn't say the wrong things to you and doesn't talk, just listens after a hard day of classes, work, and everyday city-people interactions.

I agree 110%

[mainbutter]

My pets keep me from being depressed when the times are blue. They're great to have around!

[MDB]

[QUOTE=Soterios;942231] I woke up one morning next to someone I didn't know, in my apartment[QUOTE]

been there done that lol coyote ugly lmao. Anyways though seriously congrats on turning ur life around