As a former resident of Fairfield County, CT I can concur about much of what you have said. However, last time that I checked, Boston was about 200 miles from Saratoga, so I doubt that you can make it there in only 2 hours as you say, let alone in the Winter time.
The The population does fluctuate with non-resident college students...but I wouldn't say its a "college town". Saratoga Springs , NY is smaller....but a great little town. I think I've heard something about most drinking establishments per square block in the Northeast...probablly bs. I recently had some friends visit from NYC who normally go to the Hamptons for the weekend. We went to Saratoga (it was Travers weekend) and they loved it. Even said it was better than the Hamptons.
My sister went to college in Boston....Albany to Boston is 160miles....I would drive 70-80mph and get there in 2-2.5hrs Getting back usually took longer because I was hungover and needed to stop for breaks more. Also, I think Bright Trading has an office in Saratoga Springs. I've never seen it, but heards its the size of a coat closet. If anyone wants to share office space I'd consider it.(experienced only please)
I had the pleasure of living in San Fran for a year. It's expensive, but cheaper than NYC. People are right about San Diego versus San Fran, ***BUT***, if your looking to live in a "real city", then San Fran is the shiiiizniiiit The "company" was paying for my sky rise apartment near down town for $2200/month, and that was for like 700 sq/ft. Didn't have or need a car. It is NOT cold in San Fran. It's "cool". I consider it fall weather year around basically. The views, the weather, the food, the surrounding bay area, the city, it's all awesome. Lake Tahoe skiing on the weekend is NICE. The street begging bums really are the only big issue with me. But they got to know me, since I walked to work every day on the same path, and left me alone. I'm not really a big city person, so I'll stick with the San Diego area. But given a choice of cities, San Fran is IT. I miss it sometimes. May go back just for halloween Crazy fun... peace axeman
I think the Northeast has some beautiful areas, and I agree the change of seasons in the Northeast is probably the most dramatic, but I agree with what Waggie said. I lived in upstate New York when I was in college and the cost of living in some podunk town in the middle of nowhere, with one stoplight was absurd. That money drain of NYC costs everyone in that entire state. For instance, groceries were more expensive in the middle of upstate NY than in downtown Chicago. I don't know what the cost of living is in places like Vermont or New Hampshire, but my impression is you can get all the natural beauty for a fraction of the cost of upstate NY...
You must have gone to school somewheresouth of Poughkeepsie...if you're in Westchester or Newburgh..well, yeah you're gonna pay Long Island type cost of living because you're in a daily commutable distance to Manhattan. I posted sorta as a joke by the way. I happen to love it up here...but I'm not in the chamber of commerce or anything . LOL And I wanted to postthat ugly pic of my dog too.