New from Kansas, first snake advice

[alyssaash]

Hello all! My name is Alyssa, I'm in Manhattan, KS, originally from Southern California. I apologize in advance for the long post, but am needing some advice/sense talked into me. I've been interested in keeping snakes for years now but haven't taken the plunge and acquired my first yet. I have a friend from back home that keeps and breeds a few different varieties and has said that he would send me a Hog Island Boa from his next litter later this year, which I've been super excited about, and have since taken to hanging out in my local reptile store admiring the babies and adults, chatting with employees, and browsing forums such as this one to gain information since I have zero practical experience with snakes. All has been on track to prepare for the Hog Island later on, but a few days ago the reptile store got in an absolutely gorgeous albino reticulated python. He's got tons of lavender and the most adorable orange head. I've been too enamored with staring at him to take a picture, next time I'll try to remember and show you all. My boyfriend fell head over heels in love with the little guy and we've been visiting with him and holding him every day. He's extremely docile for a baby. The store employees seem extremely confident that we won't have any problems starting off with a giant as our first snake; they all keep them themselves and apparently haven't ever had any issues to mention (the latter being key). I'm also aware that they are trying to make a sale and may give less-than-solid advice to newcomers in order to make a few (hundred) bucks. They've let us hold the adult retics in the store and my boyfriend and I are awestruck at their size, power, and the sheer presence they command. He is telling me to screw waiting around for the boa, that we're getting the baby retic, "go big or go home." As much as I would love to have him, I'm reasonably worried for us all. I've read horror stories of inexperienced keepers injuring themselves or others with even smaller snakes because they don't know how to handle or keep them, plus I would absolutely hate to end up killing the poor thing due to my inexperience despite all the research in the world. I've been pouring over forums, books, and articles about retics trying to convince myself how bad of an idea it is to get this guy as our first snake, but every time I see him again or a picture of one similar to him..... it's love, there's no denying it. I've tried reasoning with the boyfriend, saying let's start out with a ball and go from there, but he's pretty insistent on the retic... and honestly the thought of a ball python doesn't flip my skirt in the slightest. The colors are fun, but the feeding issues and small size aren't doing much of anything for my interest. There's always the option of the Hog Island again, but now that the snake bug has bitten it'll be even more difficult to wait now than it was five months ago when the option was presented to me, and I'm not really feeling the connection with the breed as I unfortunately am with the retics. I've been digging up pictures of little kid me at birthday parties and the zoo beaming ear to ear with a big yellow snake wrapped around my entire self, and pictures from my teens down at Santa Monica beach paying $5 to take a picture holding the giant pythons. I've always been fascinated with the extra large snakes, I've got the space for one, the financial ability to care for one, access to rabbits to feed when it's older..... and there I go again trying to convince myself it's not a horrible idea not to start with something smaller! Help me out here!