A relationship will certainly cramp your zoo visiting..unless you find a girl into the same[on a par with locating a Thylacine whilst we are on the subject].I can honestly say that my need to travel the world and look at animals has cost me at least 4 relationships including my marriage!I dont wish to sound totally myopic because ive known some fantastic,and if i may say so,beautiful women-its just that their idea of a fortnight in the states is not 20 zoos and/or aquariums[not surprisingly] whereas cracking "the thousand" has become almost obsessional for me,plus i get good material for "Zoo Grapevine" as a very nice bonus!
It is possible to go on mega zoo trips if you find the right person! 2008- 30 zoos in one summer with my wife 2010 - 39 zoos in 46 days with my wife and 10-month daughter 2011 - 30 zoos in one summer with my wife, 20-month daughter and 2-month son 2012 - 50 zoos in 50 days with my wife, 33-month daughter and 14-month old son 2013 - No more trips! Baby #3 is on the way and so I'll probably be stuck at 180 lifetime zoos for quite some time.
I'd probably have gotten to Frankfurt much sooner if I could have left the missus behind, but they do have hellbender there and I know for a fact she would never ever forgive me if I did
Dear old Clive Bennett was my grandfather. He loved Belle Vue, the Tropiquaria and all the animals he brought home. I do miss him