For anybody that cares....here is the breakdown of my tarantula garage sale and what is going on in my life. I love to write and I also feel some things might just be worth saying here. It's a long read but I wrote it for fun, and instead of erasing it and going to bed, I am posting it for fun.
I recieved my first T when I was 9 (Rosehair) then for some weird reason after I felt that pet was not exciting enough, began my fascination and the start of my collection when I was roughly 16. Some of the first few animals I got came from Botarby8s, including P. metallica female I have now and some of the others. The first T I bred was G. rosea, I made a couple hundred bucks selling the babies, used that to invest in more Ts, and then the rest of the story kind of just goes along. Tarantulas are still one of the most fascinating creatures to me. Despite the fact I am selling about 90% of my collection, I will still keep a few and will continue to work on projects. I have a mature pair of P. metallica I will soon attempt to breed, and I also have a T. blondi with an eggsac as well as an A. avicularia on an eggsac. My P. regalis is looking very gravid as well.
I am trying my luck at centipedes at the moment. Seems like nobody breeds them and there is a lack in information available about them, both in the hobby and the biology world. My ultimate goal is to work hard to change all of that for the better. If all goes well, I may be able to specialize in them in my later college years. So far, of all of the inverts I have kept, they are the most fascinating to me personally.
Other projects I am working on include a book. I am currently helping a man (Peter Clausen, bugsincyberspace.com) author his invertebrate book that should hopefully be out in the next couple years. I am covering the "trapdoor spider section" due to my interest in these neat little animals. Therefore, I kept my large stock of trapdoor mygalomorphae/other traps. Another reason I am into them is due to the fact that they are a somewhat popular animal to study in college, and hope to be able to do so also if centipedes just don't work out. Centipedes are new to me, but the trapdoors I have lots of experience with.
In regards to college, that is my ultimate priority. I am headed to Shasta College here in NoCal (Jr. College) and plan to transfer in the next 1.5 years to one of my schools of choice including Berkely, Humboldt, Santa Barbara, San Diego, or another. My current major is Zoology, possibly a double-major with entomology. I hope to minor in environmental sciences and possibly microbiology as well. Beginning education at a Jr. College to later transfer is supposedly one of the wisest decisions; especially for myself. I can live at home (work on bug projects) which would save lots of money, the college is less than 30 minutes away, the courses are guaranteed transferable, the courses are way cheaper than any UC or CSU, I can keep some friends, I can change majors much more easily, stall to figure out exactly what school I want to eventually go to, and so on.
That being said, I would have to have done something with my collection in the future anyway. I did it now because I want a good start in college right off the bat, focusing from the very beginning. This sale will open up many hours a week. Between work, school, after school study/homework, girlfriend, church, friends, projects such as the book, stuff I do such as daily gym visits, etc. Those all combined defined my summer, and now with school starting up it is simply going to be impossible to continue all of that when I am in a classroom mon,wed,fri from 8-3, and at work 2.5 days a week, plus the other stresses I just mentioned. This is not only what is best for myself, but also what is best for my precious inverts.
I sold the animals so cheap because school starts next week, I need to start moving stuff out quickly, the funds will be for my projects, pay for some college, and additionally for those who didn't know; 10% of my total sales will be paypaled to our beloved Fred (SFBATS president) to support him and his family during the rough times they are having with Fred's health. I also want to say to dealers, especially Ken, I hope you do not feel like I am undercutting you and your business, as you may be looking at some of those prices while puking your guts out. This was really like a yard sale, planned well before the meeting so that people would hopefully have more money by the time the meeting comes around to do their shopping. However, we should all know the meetings are so much more than spider sales/trade. Fellowship, entertainment, education, sharing, just to name a few, are what compose SFBATS and our spectacular get-togethers. Another thing is that these prices are SFBATS exclusive, you will not find my add on arachnoboards, ATS, nor anywhere else, only here and CRIS. That is simply because you guys are the best, I will probably get to see the animals again one day, and putting that add anywhere else WOULD be undercutting dealers and their businesses. Which reminds me, the majority of these animals were purchased from Ken (Kenthebugguy) who I will continue to do business with. He is my # supplier, and I and others cannot thank him enough for what he has contributed to the entire US's exotic bug-keeping hobby. As I work further with centipedes and trapdoor spiders, and what tarantulas I still have, a lot of that money will be going back to him anyway. Plus when schools and scientists and so on need bugs for various reasons, I know exactly who to refer or go to.
As you may see, I have dramatically downsized my 'bug' collection, however I am far from leaving the hobby. I may have a collection like that again, or I may not. One thing for certain is my fascination with bugs will never be gone, and if I succeed in my educational goals, I would become a much bigger asset to SFBATS and ideally the world of bugs.
Almost sounds like I'm venting...maybe I am lol. Life is tough and I know more decisions like this will come again. I wish I could have kept all of my animals, and kept adding to the collection. It just would have been so overwhelming for me. For now, I am just going to be the crazy kid playing with centipedes at the meetings. Not to mention enjoying my time with friends, hiking Mt. Diablo (always fun), free food (that cheesecake was delicious last time!) and so on. Hopefully at each meeting from here on I will be sharing what I am learning in school and what projects I have been assigned (already trying for one bug hunting internship for Berkely/CA Academy of Sciences). It is obvious I love these things so much, not a whole lot of people base their future careers on them.......they are usually the smartest ones though
Regards,
~Cody
EdgarOrtega
Cody, these are all admirable goals and aspirations. We wish you the best of luck as you page through the next few chapters in your life.
I know you will do well and be successful. You're a real asset to the hobby, and I know I will follow your career, closely, wishing you all the best.
You have in us a cheering section and an all-around pool of support as you continue pursuing your goals.
I admire your pursuits and clear vision of what you want to do.
Keep doing the things that bring you joy, and follow your bliss-- that it may lead you to where you want to be, while enjoying the road along the way.
In all sincerity, we appreciate you, the enthusiasm you have for the animals we all enjoy, and the path you've chosen. You are well placed to achieve these goals, and we wish you all the best.
Most of all, you seem, by all appearances, a great person. I know you will do well, both with your achievements and in life.
We're happy to know you.
Best Wishes, Cody.
--Edgar The San Francisco Bay Area Tarantula Society
T_Stew
^^^Ditto^^^
northswan04
Double Ditto, that is really cool. Consider UCD or UCR for Entomology, you are going to have quite a work load, I think I worked harder at the JC than I do at the UC. I'm glad we met now while we're young, it's going to be great seeing what you do was we get older!
I only wish I had more to spend on your garage sale , and running it now before the meeting was a genius idea. Best of luck on your future endeavors.
CodeWilster
Thanks for the kind words everybody!!! And I am certainly considering UCD as well. I would be able to live with my grandparents which would again save me a ton of expenses.
I kicked off my first semester this year with public speaking, chemistry, and physics...bleh. That might help you guys understand all of this chaos a bit more now lol I can only imagine what I'll take next semester...
One thing I never told any of you, (my mom told a couple people) is that Dr. Freeland Dunker is my uncle. He was formerly the head vet at the San Francisco zoo, and is now the head vet at Stinehart Aquarium/CA Academy of Sciences. It is obviously because of him that I have much more access and connections to things such as internship programs, etc. He's currently trying to hook me up with Charles E Griswold, professor at Berkely. We'll be spending a day sort of just chatting and I'll get to kind of "shadow" him. I hope I will get to do this, as consequently it will really increase my chances of getting to do an internship that is basically bug collecting next summer along the coast and in some of the parks in the Bay Area...
darth skippy
do you need an assistant?
CodeWilster
.....No.
Ah we'll see.
Ricky Ortiz84
Dittio x3!!! Code I'll keep my fingers crossed for you in all your things you got going! I hope you get that inturn with Mr. Griswold and maybe you can introduce me once your tight with him lol
llamamama
Ditto x4! Cody, you are not the crazy kid playing with centipedes at the meetings. You are one of the most "together" kids I have met, in or out of this hobby. You are already an asset to SFBATS, and I know you will continue to be. Your knowledge and generosity are exemplary for your age. I personally look forward to seeing how your education and career progress in the future. Good luck in school and I hope we will still get to see you at as many meetings as your schedule will allow.
, and running it now before the meeting was a genius idea. Best of luck on your future endeavors.
.....No.
