Wow this thread is old. lol.
But I've actually got updates to it!

Last night I was out with my neighbor enjoying the rainy evening in our usual manner- at the worst Chinese restaurant on the planet. My car wasn't in the parking lot- we'd taken my friend's truck- and who should pull up but my ex.

Yes, THAT ex.

I am due to get off probation within days of his last court date relating to something that happened when I kicked him out. I've been a stress mess lately, worrying that he will take advantage of the opportunity to snitch.
I scooted out to catch him before he came inside and started by telling him that our dog is sick- I've had 2 tumors taken off her this month. I think that news sort of disarmed him.
On to the small talk, how's life, how's work, oh don't you have a court date coming up, and told him that I had asked for them ONLY to give me the restraining order but I personally did not care to see them pursue the B&E charges. He assured me that there was nothing to worry about on my end either, and asked if I still had any equipment, or whether I had sold it... ... he's moving out of the county (finally, thank GOD) and wants to grow. He says he learned by watching me and it looked easy, lol.

But that was a shocker- For him to assume that I was still completely out of business after all this time... I've been going on the assumption that he thinks I'm a grower and always will be. I took a deep breath and showed a little of my hand... that I still have the equipment... and I am using it. But not the way he thinks. I told him that in no way am I growing for product, but that I wanted to keep breeding on a very small scale, and that if he wanted to get set up, I would help him, and give him solid genetics to get going with, on the condition that he repaired the damage to my house which I am still angry at him for, and the unfinished electrical work that left dead circuits in every room of my house. He agreed eagerly.

It was a bizarre conversation to say the least. The only person who knows about my grow and has bad blood with me is that guy. And apparently the blood isn't as bad as I had thought.

You know what they say... keep your friends close... but your enemies closer.
I still trust him about as far as I can throw him but it's like a giant weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

So I guess that story is almost over... the last chapter will finish unfolding over the next week or so, but I think we have a happy ending in store.

Teh epilogue is that I have learned a lot about planning a grow for ease of removing it from the house, and I've learned about relationships, and the law, and even a little about myself and how I act under pressure. I was reminded that the law IS on your side when the shit hits the fan- having done everything else legally and in good faith made me able to go on the offensive, in court, when I had to, even STILL having a bunch of plants kicking around.

The new beginning is that I am back in the game and feeling safer than I have in months. My genetics collection has nearly doubled in size, and I've culled the poor performers. I had the chance to break down totally to nothing and start rebuilding from scratch.

I built a new room yesterday, ironically in the same crawl space where I planted my first seed 3 years ago and which gave me my canncom handle. It's bringing me closer to my dream grow- the third room just for big mothers under 650w of MH, air conditioned, beautiful. That, combined with a 1400w flower room and a sweet little veg closet under tube flouros.... well, you can only imagine.

Things are looking up.