Your view of the reptile hobby

[StudentoReptile]

I don't know what else to say as far as advice so here is what I do:
- I don't really "buy" herps anymore. I've been doing this so long, people know me often offer to give me stuff for free sooner or later, and if I don't want it, I find someone who does. I'm also on the board for a local reptile rescue so this helps.
- I educate the general public whenever possible.
- I apparently have a gene where I am unable to turn my brain off, much to my wife's dismay. I never stop learning and researching and doing creative things.
- I get out and field herp as much as possible. I feel this keeps me connected with my local herp fauna.
- I do what I can to conserve and protect that local herp fauna.
- I started a herp society that more or less promotes all of the above.

My biggest obstacle is not the general public, but the so-called "veteran" hobbyists (sometimes like myself) that think they already know it all, and don't wish to hear that a lot of what they are doing is incorrect, and the information they are promoting is also incorrect.