Matt, Waterhunter. Welcome to our forum, so nice that you have found us. Interesting and intriguing name by the way. You think that you are excited now about keeping bees, with all the learning that you are doing, you ain't seen nuthing' yet!!! The world of the honeybee is one of the most fascinating of all, their secret little life that we delve into, how we help them and they help us, it is like a partnership of pure love. You would do well, in my honest opinion, to keep a colony at your home or two and a couple at your Parent's home. Find out for sure if your neighbours would mind, they probably wouldn't, but do make sure first, you don't want to raise arms against you, especially if they love you, as you say that they do, hee, hee, smiling. It is nice to be on good terms with the neighbours. Stick around, ask as many questions as you want to, we were all beginning beekeepers too, we all needed someone to mentor us, be is personal mentoring, books, cyberspace, welcome aboard. Have that most wonderful and awesome life, day, health. Cindi