Scott
New Yorkers can be a "funny bunch", myself included when I lived there. Tell someone outside the state of N.Y you're a "New Yorker" and most will think New York City (at least what I have found). When I was stationed at Ft. Drum, people from Potsdam and Messena thought even if you were from Watertown you were still a "southerner" (sp?). Then some time later as a civilian living in Syracuse, some people in Watertown even thought Syracuse was "downstate" not "upstate".
The Adirondacks is awesome, one of the best remote, wilderness areas on the east coast. Great outdoor activities, and you can get lost very easy, which I''ve found can be hard to do on the east coast.
Funny, after being stationed in N.C, swore I never live here. Well, I'm here (my first choice would of been Idaho or Utah or Alaska, but don't tell my wife!) Funny how things work out.
That being said, one state that wasn't mentioned is West Virginia. Heck, when I lived up above Harrisburg, Pa, EVERY weekend would drive to W.V or N.Y to go kayaking (rotating each state). Got to the point that one friday night at the movies couldn't tell if I was in Morgantown or the Salmon Mall in Watertown (no kidding). Both states have alot in common in the "outdoors" area, of course W.V being much smaller in size. Hard long cold winters, and hot summers in W.V with some great mountains for the best in outdoor activity (they don't call it "almost heaven" for nothing"). You can also drive a VERY rural road, see trailers with ten run down cars sitting outside, a satilite (sp?) dish outside and a refridgerator outside to boot outside and forget if your driving outside of Morgantown or Carthage N.Y (I kid you not!) I can also promise you taxes are lower in W.V compared to N.Y.
You would also be surprised how far your money can go with land in some rural areas of N.C, particularly if you're used to Vt. and Ct.
Talked to my MIL tonight, heard you guys had a hot one today in Vt.
Every once in a blue moon I tell my wife if she wants us to transfer back to Vt. (where her company is located) I would be willing to consider it (I love "big" hills and the snow really does not bother me). She tells me to forget it, she's not moving. She also brings up the point that there is no way we could have what we have now and afford it living in Vt.
