It has to be a predisposition. No family herpers and no access to herps as a kid, but at 6 or 7 years old I had a collection of rubber snakes when other girls had dolls.
Didn't get my hands on real live snakes until I left home at 21 - began with Garter snakes, then Corn & Rat snakes, then Ball Pythons and Boas and after that it was anything I could lay my hands on!