I don't know if I qualify as "serious" yet, but I started the same as most other people on this site. One snake at a time. LOL.
Living in Florida, I'd always had an interest in reptiles because of the variety I could catch in my own backyard. I've learned everything (and I do mean EVERYTHING) about good keeping I know from this forum and Kathy Love's book. I'm currently working from home, and my partner is a hair stylist. But I'm the one that pays for all of the animals and their care. When I met him, I only had 3 snakes, and he was in now way interested. I slowly lured him in before springing the trap, and getting him to buy herps of his own. LOL. We're coming up on our 3 year anniversary, and I've had herps for almost 4 years.