New York is a whole State! A rant...

[Hillbilly77]

I'd like to try to shed some light on my home state of New York.
There is a common misconception that somehow this state is entirely made up of NY City and ends someplace around Yonkers or Westchester.
There are plenty of questions why we don't all just pack up and leave. I've also heard and read several times the sentiment that "NYers voted these anti-gun politicians in, let them deal with the consequences...."
I'd like to point out, that "we" didn't all vote in these anti-gunners, and the "To hell with them" attitude does no good at all.

Now, about my home state....
As I said, New York doesn't end at the city, we are a fairly large state.
We have forests full of wild game - deer, turkeys, coyotes, etc. Also lots of small game and birds, etc. We have freshwater lakes and streams full of fish - walleye, bass, pike, perch, catfish, bullhead, trout, salmon, etc. Also there are the trapping opportunities - beaver, fisher, weasel, marten, etc. The list goes on and on.
Where I live, it is a common sight to have deer and turkeys wander through my lawn. Some of the places I hunt, if you got turned around you'd be up for a several-hour walk back to any road. (We put on some deer drives that are almost a mile long.). There is as much forest and wilderness here as anywhere.
NY State has large apple, maple products, and wine industries.

Why do I stay here? It is my home. My family is here. My lifelong friends are here. The house I live in has been in my wife's family for over 160 years. I remodeled the house with my own hands. The place has meaning to us that can't be found elsewhere. I can walk out of my house and be immediately hunting. A four-minute drive puts me to Oneida Lake where you can catch most of the aforementioned fish.
As far as climate and weather, it doesn't get much better. No tornados, hurricanes that make it this far north are rarely much more than a thunderstorm with rain. No catastrophic earthquakes, etc.
if you like to play in the snow, there are ski hills and snowmobile trails, etc.

As far as where I live, I love it here. I like the area where I live.
Will I ever leave New York? Maybe, but I will do it with a plan and it will be on my terms. I refuse to just run away from my home.

Sorry, rant over.

 

[snowman]

No need to apologize for your rant, Hillbilly. I would hope that most of us understand completely. Roots are important; relationships are important -all that stuff you mentioned. You and the other NY gunowners hang in there. Again, I would hope that most of us here know that you aren't responsible for putting those fools in office.

Regards,
Andy

 

[BobC357]

I liked living in upstate NY except for the night we got 6 ft of snow and the ice storms. What drove me away was the taxes and cost of living -- not the quality of life. For a home 2/3 the size of what I'm in now, the taxes were almost $10,000/yr. Here, the taxes are less than $2,000. Fuel, food, etc are also considerably less here.

Because NYC costs the entire state so much, I left. I would gladly return if they ever fix that problem.

 

[labworm]

Well done Hillbilly77
Many generalize but don't know what you know about New York.

Same boat, different state.

I stay and put up with a lot, but I just love New England as many love their home states. Plus I already have a plot for myself, till the end.

 

[ladder13]

I'm planning on leaving NY someday, possibly in the next few years, but if don't, it's God's Will. I don't understand all the hand ringing and harsh reactions to people living here. Be thankful for what YOU have, why the constant need to look down on where someone else lives?

This life is very temporary,at best, I'm looking foward to being with my Father in Heaven for Eternity. This is all nothing in the grand scheme.


A post I made note of from forum member BlackAgnes, offers another view.

"Some have asked why we continue to live in New York State, given the anti-gun bias by our lawmakers. Why don't we just move to Wyoming or Texas?

Here are a few reasons:

All my family, including my new grandson live here, and within a few miles of my home

I earned my living here and when I retired, I was unwilling to start over in a new state

All my friends are here, and that is important to me

My doctors, who understand our family's health challenges, are here

I help take care of my WWII veteran father, who is 88 years old, and he sure as hell ain't moving

Despite the hoops gun owners here need to jump through, ccw holders can carry in bars and restaurants without restriction

My life does not revolve around the need to carry a gun. Life has many more facets than that!

Anyway, before glibly suggesting that we move, consider all the reasons you live where you do."

AMEN TIM.

 

[Old Corp]

Well, where I'm at here in the central area of NC (Raleigh area), you can't sling a cat without hitting a New Yorker.
It's been that way since there was what the locals called the 'Great IBM Invasion of 1967'.
At one time I thought about driving over to I95 just to see if it had only southbound lanes installed.

Home is very important - sounds like you're in a great place.
I'm married to a NY gal from the Helderberg mountain area and we're headed up for a family wedding on Lake George this Summer. Looking forward to it.

 

[Straightshooter2]

I remember when I was in Delta Reservations talking to people from Upstate New York. Depending on where they were located, many times I could get them a lower fare out of La Guardia than other airports. I actually had people who would much rather pay a few dollars more and drive further to go out of Buffalo or people who would go out of White Plains because that was as close to the city as they wanted to go. What I remember most in talking to them was their wonderful attitude and their almost universal disgust/dislike for NYC.

CW

 

[ladder13]

Well, where I'm at here in the central area of NC (Raleigh area), you can't sling a cat without hitting a New Yorker.
It's been that way since there was what the locals called the 'Great IBM Invasion of 1967'.
At one time I thought about driving over to I95 just to see if it had only southbound lanes installed.

Home is very important - sounds like you're in a great place.
I'm married to a NY gal from the Helderberg mountain area and we're headed up for a family wedding on Lake George this Summer. Looking forward to it.

My wife worked for IBM and spent lots of time in Raleigh and Johnson City, Tn on business trips.............be careful I've been looking down that way.
True story, a couple years ago we were at a farmers market in Hendersonville, NC. As soon as I opened my mouth, the vendors knew where I was from. I told one woman that I wasn't here to change her, and only wanted to taste some of her apples. She had a big laugh, we talked for almost an hour about the area.

 

[Mike McLellan]

I lived about 5 miles east of Rhinebeck for about 2 years, back in the early seventies. I loved it. There were some caveats, (ie. taxes, living expenses, cops, etc.). I had to attend an all-day hunter/safety class before I could shoot my flintlock, but that was probably a good thing anyway. New York state was everything hillbilly said. When I left there, the only logical place to go was Alaska. That's what I did.

 

[kozmic]

New York has a bit of everything to do. We fully embrace all 4 seasons but don't get the extremes that others have in the country. I live in a town of 2400 people. Most around me are like-minded, land owners. We look out for one another. We have excellent schools and great colleges. I can be in Toronto in 3 hours. NYC or Boston in 5-6 hours. I have any variety of wildlife in my back yard. I can go out back and shoot till my fingers cramp. My commute is 8 minutes. I can be on Lake Ontario in 20 minutes. We have great sports teams and entertainment. We have the best supermarket chain in American. We have great restaurants and shopping. Heck, even Hillbilly is only a couple hours down the thruway!

I still need to be here because I started my business 23 years ago. It's regional and I can't manage it on my laptop from Key West. I have one son in HS and one son at a state college 2-1/2 hours away. My in-laws are both in their mid-late 80's. They don't require much, if any, care yet but, if I decided to leave the state now it would be without my wife and youngest.

But mostly, I'm not ready to leave. Despite the many hurdles forced upon us by the idiots in Albany and the down state legislators passing rules for the rest of us, it's a damn fine place to raise a family and call home. You will hear me rant about those fools regularly. Largely because I remember what NY once was and pray it will become great again some day. Our law makers seem to do their best to drive away good hardworking folks. But it's those good, hardworking folks that make up the fabric of New York and for now at least, keep me here.

I've lived elsewhere. In states where forum members now say "why don't you come live here"? They are great and maybe some day I will but I can't think of a better place to have raised my kids than right here.

 

[The Big D]

Hillbilly77 and ladder13 know of what they speak.

As an aside, parts of Staten Island would confuse anyone who thinks New York City is just tall buildings and Central Park.

And even if you don't like horse racing, Saratoga is one of the most beautiful and cool towns anywhere in the US of A. But don't miss a visit in August when the greatest thoroughbreds in the world are on a glorious stage.

Be safe.

 

[Hillbilly77]

I can go out back and shoot till my fingers cramp.

^^^^^^^^
This too! I forgot this important detail.

 

[venomballistics]

I'd like to try to shed some light on my home state of New York....




Why do I stay here? It is my home. My family is here. My lifelong friends are here. The house I live in has been in my wife's family for over 160 years. I remodeled the house with my own hands. The place has meaning to us that can't be found elsewhere. I can walk out of my house and be immediately hunting. A four-minute drive puts me to Oneida Lake where you can catch most of the aforementioned fish.
As far as climate and weather, it doesn't get much better. No tornados, hurricanes that make it this far north are rarely much more than a thunderstorm with rain. No catastrophic earthquakes, etc.
if you like to play in the snow, there are ski hills and snowmobile trails, etc.

As far as where I live, I love it here. I like the area where I live.
Will I ever leave New York? Maybe, but I will do it with a plan and it will be on my terms. I refuse to just run away from my home.

Sorry, rant over.

Hi ... Im from Wisconsin.
I can say, nearly the same as you, of the birthright, I see in my rear view mirror.
yeah, I left it behind. Sometimes I miss it, though not nearly as much as you seem to fear leaving yours.
Over the years there I must have launched three tons of lead in my back yard without incident. toward the end there, even though volume had been reduced to perhaps 10% of the gunfire I had produced in the years before, I found myself gaining the attention of the authorities for it.
while the letter of the law said one thing, my eyes were telling me something different. Things were changing, and not for the better.
I lay odds that my Mustangs plate lead the county for being radioed in. pay no mind that despite being a black and gold middle finger on four wheels in appearance, it was almost always operated within the legal envelope.
A few of the old guard looked upon that machine and smiled in appreciation of what it was. its was the new breed that profiled it, even threatened me for it. Guess it became a crime to drive a beautiful car too.
By the time it left the tri county area I was probably the holiest man in the state for all the prayers said to avoid trouble.
Iowa Police are kinda famous for being hard cases in this area. That may be. I don't expect much in the way of leniency, but I will tell you they are fair and run by the book.
I was pulling into a gas station to feed the beast somewhere around Mason City when this Iowa State trooper gave it a good hard look, turned to get in his car, stopped turned to look again as I rolled to a stop by the pump. He was a young cop, obviously of the new breed. We had a few words.
I was half expecting to hear I'd be shot at if .... like I was back home. No ... he'd not seen one quite like mine before and was curious .. even friendly. There was no assumption on his part that violations occurred or would occur.

The thing is, I could finally get back to the fine art of living and not worry too much about local government legislating from the holster.
I miss some things about WI, I wont lie to you about it. There just wasn't much room left for enjoyment of those things I miss about it.
You might live out your days in peace there in NYS. I hope that is the case. However, its your children and grand children who will find themselves as a version of my former Wisconsin self.

Yours, truly
The Nebraskan

 

[Arik]

I dont live in NY but i with you guys. I could never understand the "just leave" statements. Yea like that's so easy. First you gotta find a job in your field that pays good money (its not like youre being recruited), then find a neighborhood /house in a good area then leave all your friends and family behind. Lets also not forget that the income you make in one state doesnt equal the same in another city/state. Im 1.5hrs south of NYC and can live comfortably on $50k a year. In NYC $50k is barely getting by. It isn't that easy. Next time some of you say "just move" put yourself in the same situation.

Second....I LOVE NYC! I do! Dont care what their gun laws are, i love the city. The hustle and bustle, the fact that everything is near by and easily accessible. The melting pot ...the fact that i can make a left and eat some fine kabaabs at a middle eastern or Turkish restaurant or rurn right and eat at a Russian restaurant or behind me is a Mongolian smoke house!!!!!! Whatever .....anything any time, any where....variety!!!! Not just meat and potatoes day in and day out! Yea gun laws suck...agreed. Im luck enough to live where the gun laws are good and the city life is how i like it.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Alnamvet68]

My grandfather owned a 400+ acre dairy farm in Orange County where we, as kids, would spend our summers away from the seamy sidewalks of NYC. It was outside the town of Walden, and while the farm has been sold, and most of the property partitioned and developed, the whole area of this part of Orange County still maintains the quaint charm that I came to love.

I am of the opinion that NYC should be made the 51st state so as to rid the rest of the state of the dominant influence that seems to eminate from that house of horrors located at East End Avenue and 88th Street.

 

[ladyT]

Well I can see a future Civil Rights case emerging from someplace like NY. As it stands now the needs of NY City outweighs the neefs of the rest of the state. Non city people ate no longer on an equal footing. I would expect that at some point city folks votes will be reduced to balance out the difference between city and the rest of the state.

 

[venomballistics]

I dont live in NY but i with you guys. I could never understand the "just leave" statements. Yea like that's so easy. First you gotta find a job in your field that pays good money (its not like youre being recruited), then find a neighborhood /house in a good area then leave all your friends and family behind. Lets also not forget that the income you make in one state doesnt equal the same in another city/state. Im 1.5hrs south of NYC and can live comfortably on $50k a year. In NYC $50k is barely getting by. It isn't that easy. Next time some of you say "just move" put yourself in the same situation.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Having left mine ... no, it's not like putting a stamp on an envelope and sending yourself somewhere, Its not like storming Omaha Beach either.
Most would find that its far easier than what they envision it to be. While it does sting some, its not the kind of bone crushing torment most make it out to be.
There are those who are toying with the idea of an evac.
We should be willing to assist them in as much as we can.
Get lines on jobs for them. lines on homes in good areas. its just research and costs nothing but a few hours of time you'd rather not spend watching dancing with the stars anyhow.

 

[venomballistics]

Well I can see a future Civil Rights case emerging from someplace like NY. As it stands now the needs of NY City outweighs the neefs of the rest of the state. Non city people ate no longer on an equal footing. I would expect that at some point city folks votes will be reduced to balance out the difference between city and the rest of the state.

if LA and San Fran are a case study .... I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for balance ...

 

[rockyrider]

I am in full aggrement with all of you. Here in Rhode Island, we're up against lawmakers hell bent on changing the way of life for all law abiding citizens.
Their latest attempt is to place a $100 tax on every gun purchase, in addititon to establishing a gun registration.
Moreover, a fine of $3000. and up to 3 years imprisonment for those who choose not to comply.
We're fighting this tooth and nail by sending strong letters of objection
to our representatives.
That, i believe, is the direction of our Country.

 

[ditrina]

New York has a bit of everything to do. We fully embrace all 4 seasons but don't get the extremes that others have in the country. I live in a town of 2400 people. Most around me are like-minded, land owners. We look out for one another. We have excellent schools and great colleges. I can be in Toronto in 3 hours. NYC or Boston in 5-6 hours. I have any variety of wildlife in my back yard. I can go out back and shoot till my fingers cramp. My commute is 8 minutes. I can be on Lake Ontario in 20 minutes. We have great sports teams and entertainment. We have the best supermarket chain in American. We have great restaurants and shopping. Heck, even Hillbilly is only a couple hours down the thruway!

I still need to be here because I started my business 23 years ago. It's regional and I can't manage it on my laptop from Key West. I have one son in HS and one son at a state college 2-1/2 hours away. My in-laws are both in their mid-late 80's. They don't require much, if any, care yet but, if I decided to leave the state now it would be without my wife and youngest.

But mostly, I'm not ready to leave. Despite the many hurdles forced upon us by the idiots in Albany and the down state legislators passing rules for the rest of us, it's a damn fine place to raise a family and call home. You will hear me rant about those fools regularly. Largely because I remember what NY once was and pray it will become great again some day. Our law makers seem to do their best to drive away good hardworking folks. But it's those good, hardworking folks that make up the fabric of New York and for now at least, keep me here.

I've lived elsewhere. In states where forum members now say "why don't you come live here"? They are great and maybe some day I will but I can't think of a better place to have raised my kids than right here.

Can you PLEASE send me some Wegman's Chocolate cookies?? Or maybe a pack of Zwiegels??