I suspect John didn't bring the boys into the hunting community because he trusted so few of them--not when he thought that something evil was after them. The more people the boys were in contact with, the more risk they ran. Well, that, and what Plei said. Caution becomes habit, after all.

So, they got to meet Pastor Jim and Caleb and Bobby, and that was about it.

I suspect John didn't bring the boys into the hunting community because he trusted so few of them--not when he thought that something evil was after them.

Plus, from comments dropped in ELaC, and given the fact that Bobby at one point ran the Winchesters off his property, it sounds to me like a John had a tendency to burn bridges with some regularity.

Had a falling out with Elkins, too.

Love that about John.

Them lives.

John had a tendency to burn bridges with some regularity.

So, considering, it's not weird that Sam had a screaming fight and fled that family; it's weird that Dean didn't.

it's weird that Dean didn't.

I can't see Dean leaving-- his sense of identity was too tied with John/the hunt/the family for him to be the one to leave, and he was too much the perfect soldier in John's war for John to push him away.

No, yeah, I don't disagree with you, Lee, but -- just the fact he's the only person in the world John never managed to drive away kind of automatically tattoos the word DOORMAT on his forehead in big black ornate letters.

Or obsessively loyal ... with major father issues (yes, I'm stating the obvious).

I think obsessively loyal - so that he hasn't questioned his father's way of doing things - until recently.

it's weird that Dean didn't.

First time commenter, recent flailer, but it doesn't surprise me at all. Dean's entire identity is tied up in his usefulness to/the opinions of other people. He wouldn't go against his dad's wishes.