"Why" do you live in upstate NY? (New York: rentals, houses)

[plattsburgher]

Yes, this is my least favorite time of year, but I got to walk by the lake today and look at the snow-covered mountains of Vermont and NY, listen to the streams bubbling with the quickly melting snowcover, and hear birds chirping as in early spring, clear out my garden for planting as soon as possible, go shopping, go to a community pancake breakfast complete with fresh maple syrup since this weekend was prime sugaring and open house for tons of local places.......No traffic jams or people cutting each other off for a spot at the mall. It is very civilized here and people actually like each other. Life is good. If only I didn't have to work tomorrow it would be perfect!.........Enjoy your evening!

[homeward bound]

Yes, hang on, Honeychrome! Daffodils and other trumpet-shouts of hope are a-coming!

At least be glad you won't be facing this phenomenon: I woke up the other morning to see that the plum trees I'd planted a few years ago were beautifully blooming. Happened overnight--like a little miracle.

Then I saw that two college students, stumbling back from a long night of drinking, were PEEING on one of the trees, while conducting this highly educated conversation:

"Nice tree, huh, dude."

Belch. "Yeah. I'm still really wasted."

"Don't puke again."

"Yeah. But I might."

Belch. "That's cool."

Spring in Virginia! (Or at least this run-amok college town....)

Hammondsport, I need you!

[honeychrome]

Believe it or not, urine is rich in nitrogen and is a great natural fertilizer! I don't know about vomit, though.....

[Lauri_25ny]

Originally Posted by monick

why will you want to leave urban new york i grow up in it and i am fine and still live here now and not going to leave queens if i leave queens it is going to be at rockaway beach or down south to vist my family down there that just moved from springfield garden/rosedell,ny

there is relly no need to move upstate i know it is very boring no malls no places to eat you will have to go about 20 or 30 miles to see a mc donald or
burger king

if you want to go to a major city go to manhhatan,ny that is a real city new york has a flow and i like the speed people drive and there is noting wrong with upstate but i rether stay in queens,ny

First I have to second honeychrome. Punctuation is not just a country thing.

Yes, I have to drive 40 minutes to a mall in one direction, but only 25 going the other way. I like it that way. I like the small town thing. I like the fact that we don't even have a traffic light.

McDonald's is only 12 minutes away but eating there on a regular basis will kill me quicker than smog. I haven't been to a McRaunchy's in at least 5 years. The local diner will deliver real food as long as you call before 8. Personally, I would much rather cook for myself.

[JustSayNo]

Oh Homeward and Honey-alway two fun folks to read!

[Dancingearth]

I lived in the Lehigh Valley 30 years but left 12 years ago to move to NM. Too many people in the Lehigh Valley for me--too congested, horrible roads. Every so often I try talk myself into moving back because my family lives there. Can't do it, not even for grandkids. I visit every year and after two weeks need to get out of there. The only state that draws me east is NY. Visited Lake George in the 60s and loved it. I don't know about Scranton, remember it as backward and depressed. From what I've seen thru the internet, I imagine it has turned into one giant suburb of commuters. shudder... I think it depends on what you want. I need some nature and quiet and people that talk to each other. For thirty years, I heard "you're not from here are you?" All because I talk to people in grocery lines. When I moved to Santa Fe someone said "you're from the midwest aren't you?" hahaha...even after 30 years in PA my roots showed.

[Tioga]

Was just in a local hospital for a planned 2 day "cut and slash". At any rate, now that I'm back at the keyboard, I thought I'd mention that 3..count'em 3 of the nurses I met during my short stay were from .....guess where...former downstaters. Their accent gave them away, so I'd politely ask why/how they ended up in Broome County. All 3 gave the usual reasons listed here....no surprise, really. Oh, and to be fair I won't count a 4th (originally from the eastern Europe) who stayed in NYC momentarily on her way up here..

[rnycboa35]

Monick all those things you think are so great are exactly what i would love to leave behind.I work in nyc and really wouldnt mind if I never had to go there again.Peace and quite, less people,less fast food and chain stores.No offense but you can keep it.Ill take a nice country road w/mountain views anyday.

[rnycboa35]

staying in East Islip where the kids love their home & friends & their mom does too !!

[creationofbeauty]

I just want to say that I am from upstate NY, Niagara Falls to be exact! I read the post that started w/the pictures of the run down area and though there are a lot of run down areas, everything that you all have said about upstate NY cites, still hold true for the Falls. I have lived in NC, MD and currently GA and I am contemplating going back home, if not home, at least Rochester. Glad to see that where ever upstate I go, the positives that I mis of Niagara Falls will hold true there.