I grew up in Rochester and went to college in Buffalo -- both fairly large metro areas -- so I never imagined I'd settle in a small city like Kingston in a rural area like the Hudson Valley/Catskills region.
Friends were off to places like New York, Boston, Chicago, Philly and L.A., and I figured I, too, would be drawn to the bright lights of a big city. After all, the argument goes, big cities have everything you could possibly want and need. Why exile yourself to a small town, where even the necessities of life are hard to come by?
As it turns out, the argument is dead wrong. Even this small community in this rural area, which I've been happy to call home for nearly 20 years, can provide all the things I want and need -- and then some.

Here then, in no particular order, are my 10 favorite things about living in Kingston:
* Everything necessary to my survival (job, shopping, banks, medical care, house of worship, restaurants, recreation, etc.) is within 5 miles of my house.
* I can drive 10 minutes in one direction and be at the Hudson River waterfront or 10 minutes in the other direction and be in the Catskill Mountains. Amazing.
* I don't have to wait two weeks to get a doctor's appointment when I'm sick.
* People know my face and name in the places where I regularly do business -- bank, pharmacy, stores, restaurants, etc. I've never once, since moving here, felt like a number.
* Short lines at the Department of Motor Vehicles office.
* Being able to buy farm-fresh corn on the cob -- at the farm where it was grown!
* The store Judy's 1/2 Off Cards at Kingston Plaza. I went in there today to buy wrapping paper, a bow and a greeting card to accompany a gift for a new baby. Total price: $3.54. No kidding.
* I'm close enough to places like New York City and Albany to get there quickly, but far enough away that I don't have to deal with them on a daily basis. (Same goes for Woodstock.)
* Deising's.
* The new WBPM (92.9 FM). At last, a radio station that plays '70s and '80s music without succumbing to the formulaic classic rock format!

Now if I could just find some good chicken wings around here! Oh, well. For that, I guess I'll have to go back to Buffalo.