Randy, you can do what you want, but when you tell dogmen "I contacted my attorney," it sets a red flag up for most folks.
No one had any way to know your cousin was your attorney, so you not including that piece of information was basically ASKING FOR some "raised eyebrows" ...
It probably would have been wiser, and less of a red flag, to say, "I contacted my cousin, who's an attorney," and I don't think anyone would blame you for that.
Now I don't know what you being a plummer has anything to do with, but doing things "your own way" is something pretty much everyone does. I know I do
That is interesting about selling dogs to other countries putting people in a position to be spied-upon.
So does giving out your address and letting people know where you live, which is why I pretty much stopped doing that in the early 2000s. (Also a good way to get dogs stolen.)
As far as "changing you," no one is actively trying to change you or your methods ... in fact I don't think anyone really cares about your transactions.
But when you PUT "you and your methods" up here to be scrutinized, then you're basically ASKING for some criticism, are you not?
If no one is ever going to change you, and if you would NEVER accept the idea that you could possibly be wrong, then why even ask anyone what they think?
Just do what you do, in silence.
Jack
PS: That said, I still would have done the same thing you did, NOT go through with the deal;
I personally just wouldn't have aired the whole thing out in public ... unless I was attacked first in public.