So uh how do you wait?

[Marrissa]

I currently live at home still and will for most likely the next year and a half until I finish my last semester of the nursing degree requirements, and then go to a private college for the accelerated nursing program. This is provided I get in right away and no waits or hang ups of any kind. With my horse board I cannot afford to move out. I have a T8 and have one snake so far, am working on the parents to open up to the idea of me getting my breeding female (just to build her up to size for when I move out). It's all set up and ready to go for a snake on the other side of the divider, they're just being stubborn.

Anywho, how do you stand the wait of having to get more snakes, and more importantly the wait to breed? I seriously spend my downtime at work planning which females to start with and the combos to make, then I plan my later goals, and the genes I want to eventually get into but will wait till father down because they are pricey. I also really want a dwarf retic when I move out. I've been doing a lot of reading up on them and online window shopping. It's really more like online torturing myself. And I see all these clutch and hatchling threads and I'm sitting here like I have to wait. One snake is not enough. So for those who also have to wait to breed/own more snakes how do you just enjoy the wait and what you have? Living vicariously through others on here isn't doing it. lol

[M&NSnakeDen]

I read. A lot. I look at pictures. A LOT. Live vicariously. A LOT.

Thankfully, we have a decent amount of space & have a designated room for our snakes, but they're all 300g or under, so breeding isn't an option just yet. I don't want to cave & get an up-to-size female because I feel like it will be so much more satisfying to size up our babies & breed them.
It is torturous, that's for sure. Noah thinks I'm loony, though he is taking a higher interest in it. Even thinking of our potential company logo LOL.
Just gotta grit your teeth and bear through it! Thankfully I finished my nursing program before getting into BP's. Goodness knows I probably wouldn't have gotten the decent grades if I did haha. I stay up until the wee hours of the morning just reading, educating myself, looking at pics, watching videos etc lol.

We can do it

[Neal]

You just have to find something to occupy yourself so you don't think about it.

[Pyrate81]

I read. A lot. I look at pictures. A LOT. Live vicariously. A LOT.

This ^^ and also do a ton of "planning" for what is next as you do.

One thing I have been doing a lot is consistently handling a snake a day. I have six so I can easily do this, but the itch is there to just want to get more. Obviously you're one guy probably doesn't want to be bothered that often but maybe handling him more will help calm you down a little. It makes me concentrate on who I have in front of me and not think about the others I want to get.

[Sita]

When I was in college and couldn't have all the pets I wanted, and even right now - wanting a dog, but not sure if I'm going to be moving in the next year, I just kept reminding myself of the future. If you are not in an established place right now, what would happen if when you move out you can't find a place that will let you keep reptiles? You're possibly going to be moving a couple times in the next few years, with school, then finding a job, and it can be difficult to find reptile friendly places, especially if money is an issue.

I could have had more snakes and other pets when I moved off campus at school, but I knew I'd be moving back home after school, then probably doing internships and moving around, then looking for a job, etc. I didn't want to make my parents be responsible for my pets for who knows how long.

Right now, I could have a dog, because I have a fenced in yard, and because of the type of person I am, I HAVE to have the yard to have a dog (I know through fostering that I just can't make myself walk a dog several times a day). But I have only lived here a year, and since my house is next door to and is the property of the clinic I work for, if I get a different job, I would have to move. I really like my job, but I'm not certain I want to stay there for the several more years it would take to enable me to relocate and not have to live out of my car!

So basically, because the future is so uncertain right now, think about the consequences for your animals: having to get rid of them because you can't take them with you.

[Andybill]

I pass the time by thinking about it all the time! I actually find that planning my projects passes the time! And at first it used to get me all crazy because I just want to get all the animals in my racks and just go at it. But I have calmed down a bit and I am just rolling with it and I know that eventually I will have the morphs I want/need to carry out my plans. I am learning all kinds of patience from this hobby. And like some folks I live a little vicariously through others who have what I don't.

[Badgemash]

Since the only thing that trumps my snakes is the horses, I suggest you go spend time with your horse. He's only five, I'm sure there's plenty of work to be done (because let's be honest, there's ALWAYS work to be done). If he's decently built, then work on that topline, get those flying lead changes, lateral work, etc. Then sell him, get another young prospect, and use the difference to buy more snakes. Or if he's your special guy who will never be for sale, you've improved his training and strengthend your bond, either way it's a win.

[Marrissa]

So basically, because the future is so uncertain right now, think about the consequences for your animals: having to get rid of them because you can't take them with you.

I'm never going to move into an apartment. When I move out it will either be into my own house, or one that my boyfriend will be getting eventually. All my pets have for sure homes with me for the rest of their lives. If something ever happened to me, I have family members that would take them in (horse, fish, and snake included). Any moves I do all animals will be moving with me. The fish would be the biggest issue, but they'd go in bags and the tank drained.

Since the only thing that trumps my snakes is the horses, I suggest you go spend time with your horse. He's only five, I'm sure there's plenty of work to be done (because let's be honest, there's ALWAYS work to be done). If he's decently built, then work on that topline, get those flying lead changes, lateral work, etc. Then sell him, get another young prospect, and use the difference to buy more snakes. Or if he's your special guy who will never be for sale, you've improved his training and strengthend your bond, either way it's a win.

He's a keeper. Had him since he was born. Love that sassy little punk to death. We've got our leads, leg yields, transitions, side passes, getting out shoulder-ins, etc down. We are working on getting walk to canter. He gets it in about two small trot strides. He's been making me pretty proud lately with our lessons, and him doing the drills as good and better than the lesson horses. Going to be starting cross rails this summer and I'm stoked. Only so much I can do with him a day though lol, then I'm onto obsessing over more snakes.

lol I've gotten into the wrong hobby with my lack of patience. I can't even imagine the wait of ovys and eggs, and then hatchlings. At least right now I get to see hatchling pics when the breeders had to wait months and months.

And Andy- I'm so excited for your GHI project.

[CrystalRose]

I do a lot of reading about snakes and make lists of things I need to get before I bring more home. It's really hard though not to just run out and get another one.

[bcr229]

Well, when I was your age I wanted a horse, and had in the worst way since I was about six, but my parents couldn't afford it though I did take riding lessons and in college I joined the horse club so I could still ride once or twice a week. I had to wait to purchase my own until after I graduated, moved out, and saved up enough to pay for it.

So, my advice is to focus on your studies and your pony. The time in school will fly by.