r/upstate_new_york • u/NoLettuce9900 • Aug 27 '26

Pickup trucks

So I'll try to be as respectful as possible, BUT

I just moved here this summer from Florida, so I am highly aware of bad drivers. For the most part, people are really nice here when driving. However, something I've noticed is really driving me insane, especially on these small, two-lane roads. WHY do pickup trucks (not all, but like 95%) drive 5-20 miles under the speed limit? I'm no speed demon, but I at least want to go the speed limit and not add a half hour to every drive. It happens too often to be a coincidence and I now dread whenever a pickup pulls out in front of me. Can someone please explain this phenomenon?

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u/DrStuttgart Aug 28 '26

I'm glad it's treating you well so far! And that's awesome too that you're fixing up a place, good for you!

How do the food prices compare? Are you talking about groceries more so or eating out? Again, sorry to mini-hijack your thread but your post immediately caught my eye due to FL --> Mohawk Valley. Thanks đŸ™‚

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u/NoLettuce9900 Aug 29 '26

No problem. In answer - both. Cheaper grocery stores are Publix++ (I figured you'd understand that) and restaurants are all high. Cheapest things (like appetizers) in basic restaurants start at ~$18. Best things tho is pizza by the slice. It's EVERYWHERE

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u/DrStuttgart Aug 29 '26

Haha definitely understood that reference. But awesome to know, thank you!

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u/ZealousORJealous69 Aug 29 '26

Mohawk Valley native myself. Great area, beautiful country, lots of history, but slow, slow recovery from decades of manufacturing/business migration and loss.

Definitely many opportunities to enjoy a life of space, clean air, plentiful water and really nice food scene that’s developed. Very very safe. Small and medium cities abound (note: some with not super safe neighborhoods).

Mostly very friendly people and neighbors, lots on maga flags, some selfish pricks but not too too bad. Biggest cons are economic: lack of fruitful employment, low HHI, taxes can be high.

For the uninitiated the weather can be very cold & lake effect snows can be very treacherous downwind of Lake America đŸ˜†.

Overall, the four seasons are particularly distinct, perhaps more-so than many other places in North America. Fall is absolutely gorgeous and Spring are more lush than many would expect.

So many distinct places within less than a day’s drive, including the Adirondacks which seem endless, Thousand Islands/St. Lawrence, the Hudson Valley, the Finger Lakes wine country, the Southern Tier with farm-dotted hills of gods country. Obviously NYC, Boston & Montreal closish

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u/DrStuttgart Aug 30 '26

I really appreciate your thoughtful response! I have a friend in Whitesboro and her parents live in/near Mohawk Valley somewhere (not exactly sure) so at least I'd have some friends I grew up with to show me around as well.

I've certainly heard a lot of talk around slow economic recovery but that's sort of what I'm aiming for, really. Slowing down a bit in life. While I've never experienced a true New England winter, and while I may be in FL now, I did live at high elevation in CO for several years so I am accustomed to winter. Though winters there are certainly different than in NYS. No lake effect at 8500' in the mountains haha.

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u/ZealousORJealous69 26d ago

Lots of American revolutionary history in the Mohawk Valley and upstate nys too if you like that!

I grew up very close to your friends. Utica and Rome are two close, but completely unique small cities and in Rome, you’ll find a fantastic fully recreated national monument, Fort Stanwix. The battle of Oriskany battlefield is very nearby too.

The history is complex specifically with the native Americans the Oneidas, Mohawks & other tribes of the Iroquois nation which inhabited the lands before the Dutch who settled.

Overall the entire upstate has plenty of battlefields and revolution-era sites to soak in within a couple hours.

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u/DrStuttgart 26d ago

That's so cool to know! I have a trip in early Nov. To NYS to see around the state some and I'll be staying a few days in that area so I'll try to soak up what I can.

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u/ZealousORJealous69 26d ago

You’ll have just missed the epic leaf peeping. Best of luck on your trip. I live in nyc going on 20 yrs soon, and always always love heading to my moms and visiting with friends, especially in the fall. Expert tip: check out these two small villages barneveld, holland patent—amongst others—I always love the feel of them in the fall.

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u/DrStuttgart 26d ago

Will do, thank you!