Albany vs Rochester

[smalltownusa]

An example...with all those affluent towns and supposed progressive communities, you would think Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and Trader Joes would have moved there. I doubt they are not there because Wegmans is stopping them.

I'm from Connecticut..a world away in many regards. But I dont get in a huff if folks from NYC or Boston think the Hartford area is a bore or the city is the Detroit of New England. If you cant take constructive criticism...you'll end up like our president.

Again, if people are intellectually happy, who are you to tell them otherwise? It's naysayers like you that have me sheepishly ask friends and family who have moved back to Rochester in recent years, "WHY, WHY, WHY, we're dead on the vine?" ( SC, AZ, CT respectively) and they tell me because it's a great place to live!!!!! Are you going to tell them it's not? As for your donut relate, tell me one city in America that has not suffered from the same "phenomenon" as people moved to the suburbs over the last 4 decades....degrees are different but it is not only exclusive of the cities you mentioned....

Seventy miles from anywhere (that's relative but I digress) but a 3 hr ride gets us to Toronto and 5.5 hrs to NYC...I can be at my sister's in Andover in 6 on to Boston and on a ferry to Nantucket by late afternoon. As for skiing, it's off to VT and NH, 3 -5 hours depending on destination....yet upon return home, you find quiet laid back Rochester to re-group...for those of us who enjoy a slower pace, it's like having the cake etc.......

The other grocery giants aren't in Rochester yet but with our market being as loyal as it is to Wegmans and our population flatlining I'm sure they realize a go of it here would be harder vs markets without Wegmans...but I'm sure one day, they will show up.

You live in CT? That explains a lot....NYS has been the spitton for your state for years (have relatives who lived in West Hartford for years after grad. from UConn law school...They live in Rochester now ) and I had more than my share of "Why do you live in upstate?' conversations.....

As for resembling GB, that's more insulting than anything else you could negatively post about upstate NY

[Genghis]

I think the idea is that the upstaters know their winters and economies suck permanently, but there are other factors that make them want to live there. They value other things, like their family, the less frantic pace of life, no traffic, beautiful summers, and so on. A lot of the "denial" is in response to people from other areas who like to say how much upstate New York sucks. I mean, what would you do if someone said your home was the armpit of the nation. They are normally well aware of the problems the region is facing, but are sensitive enough and have enough pride in their region, they will start their propaganda spiel. It does look kind of ridiculous at times to an outsider when they say that Buffalo really doesn't get much snow or whatever, but many really do prefer to live here than anywhere else.

[smalltownusa]

Have you come to the realization that when it comes to Rochester, you're like the shipmate on the Titantic who ran around trying to warn everyone the shio was sinking and they ignored you and kept dancing? Give it up.....people love Rochester and you just have to face it...enjoy your progressively liberal state of mind and let us who live here enjoy the ride....Rochester is not going to disappear off the map and life will go on....peace