US News & World Report lists WNY as being in the top 1/3 of the 150 Metro Areas they looked at.  I agree there is something special about living in a mid-sized metro area. Access to cultural offerings like theatre, music, and arts are easy and affordable. Traffic is manageable ( being a native Long Islander I know what real traffic is! See photo below).

Hiking, bicycling (along outer harbor, Delaware Park, Niagara Gorge)  and pickleball are right here.  My whole family plays pickleball, travelin...

My wife Amy and I work together at Jlawrence Realty. Anyone who is, or has worked as an agent for a long enough period of time can appreciate how we get so intertwined in the lives of our clients.  Many become friends, and others need us on many levels. Here is a recent example.  Amy received an inquiry from Joe.  He and his wife, in their 80's needed to sell their lifelong home in East Amherst and move to Rochester to be near their daughter. At the same time, his lifelong friend, Anne, had jus...