The definition of genealogy does not have the presence of "blood lines" within. Genealogy: 1. A record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree. 2. Direct descent from an ancestor; lineage or pedigree. 3. The study or investigation of ancestry and family histories. Furthermore, I personally do not research blood lines. I research family history. Family: 1a. A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children. b. Two or more people who share goals and values, have long-term commitments to one another, and reside usually in the same dwelling place. 2. All the members of a household under one roof. 3. A group of persons sharing common ancestry. See Usage Note at collective noun. 4. Lineage, especially distinguished lineage. 5. A locally independent organized crime unit, as of the Cosa Nostra. 6a. A group of like things; a class. b. A group of individuals derived from a common stock: the family of human beings. 7. Biology A taxonomic category of related organisms ranking below an order and above a genus. A family usually consists of several genera. See table at taxonomy. 8. Linguistics A group of languages descended from the same parent language, such as the Indo-European language family. 9. Mathematics A set of functions or surfaces that can be generated by varying the parameters of a general equation. 10. Chemistry A group of elements with similar chemical properties. 11. Chemistry A vertical column in the periodic table of elements. ADJECTIVE:1. Of or having to do with a family: family problems. 2. Being suitable for a family: family movies. ETYMOLOGY:Middle English familie, from Latin familia, household, servants of a household, from famulus, servant Did I ever say that genealogy is just families living together? No. My arguement is that ancestory is not blood/DNA solely. Ancestry/lineage deals with family units. As you can see in the definition of a family, they are social groups. I am not the only person in my family tree that has been adopted and my research wasn't stopped by me or any records. Adoption is a legal entity. When someone dies without a will, the term "next of kin" is often used to distribute assets. No where in the definition of "kin" does is refer to "blood lines". Kin is family. Your "tea bag" analogy baffles me and doesn't make sense, but if it "works for you"-great! I think it is good to have discussions and disagreements on issues. However, please don't twist what I have written or presume what you are saying is gospel unless you have concrete evidence. Like I said, genealogy is more than just blood and I believe I illustrated my point clearly in my prior response and this one. Rick Baxter Lincoln Stormers Baseball www.eteamz.com/stormers