I used to know a woman who loved reptiles. She loved all animals but had a special place in her heart for herptiles. I never knew what I'd get handed whenever I went over there. That's how I got over my fear of snakes. Her husband handed me a boa constrictor. It turned out to be a gentle, well-socialized boa constrictor. (More so than the husband, actually.)
She had cats, birds, turtles, fish, snakes, hermit crabs, lizards, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and hamsters. And they lived in a two bedroom apartment.
I wouldn't mind having a couple of garter snakes in the yard.