Good stuff in this thread Bobby. My experience was similar to yours in the fact that I chilled before I got serious time. I was just a state guy but getting around organization guys fast tracks you (not talking lcn). In my area, there are numerous different crews/organizations and on the street it's not that serious. When you get locked up it gets dead serious. I got locked up at 24 too and hopefully this kid figures it out before he gets out or he'll live life on the installment plan. Now in my early 30s I was able to build a nice life that has no po's or supervision and I won't give that back. The nice thing about being stand-up but going a new route is you can still stick your head out at the old haunts and be respected. i still like having my finger on the pulse but from a distance. I'll let the kids and hard-heads have it.