Stefan, I can soooo relate to you! For me it's been a life time of doing animal rescue-- so not just specifically a snake thing-- but my family never got it, never understood that this is not just a hobby for me, it's a passion. Our family get-togethers used to turn into nothing but questions about what kind of animal I had now, and then plenty of useless suggestions and snide comments thrown in here and there. Most of it was about how I needed to get a "real" life.

I finally stopped responding to any animal questions or comments. Just gave them blank stares and changed the subject. And then the first time I had a tv interview and a front page newspaper article-- and Animal Planet called wanting to come do a show about our rescue-- wow, suddenly, my "hobby" became a "real life" occupation. Go figure!!!!!!

So don't burn any brdges, Stefan, just ice them over... because one of these days they are going to look at you in a whole new light!!!!!!