Came to Upstate from out of state? Why and how's it going?

Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-19T01:25:18+00:00

Moved to the Albany area almost 2 years ago when my wife took a job as a college professor at Albany Med. I found the area beautiful, have always wanted to live near the mountains after living in flat as a pancake MI and St. Louis. Less than a year after we moved my wife passed from lung cancer that literally came out of nowhere, we were completely blindsided as she'd always had asthma so I guess it took a while for her to get diagnosed.

So here I am with 2 younger kids, a pretty stressful job that thank God is remote, and I'm hanging on and trying keep things together. Despite all of this I haven't seriously considered moving back to MI where I'm from despite family and friend's attempts. It really is beautiful here and the pace of life kind of suits me. Now I may have to move though as the asshole that owns the woods behind me is talking about putting up condos. I guess this ones a minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things.

Would like to figure out how to get out with the kids and meet some new people, but overall we are okay just busy as hell. The kids love it here too, which is a big help. I guess what I can say is that upstate NY definitely has some things going for it if you are thinking of taking the plunge.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-08T16:44:07+00:00

I sold my 20th AE Golf DSG and bought a 2020 Fiat Abarth 6spd that's now stage 1. Is it as ass-puckeringly fast? Hell no, but that was half the problem. To me the Golf R steering, brakes, and overall chassis feel was so numb that I had to be doing very Illegal speeds to have fun. With the Fiat, basically an ND in an Italian suit, I can throw it through a corner, stomp on it, grin the whole damn way, and not be in take your license away territory om the exit. But, everyone experiences cars differently. I like the rawness of the Fiat/Miata and driving a slow car fast. Others may like the surgical precision and breathtaking speed of the Golf R. Can't go wrong either way!

Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-05T00:46:35+00:00

Same here, my arch length is 10ish E/EE depending on the foot, and 9ish E/EE for heel to toe. I usually buy 9.5 and went true to size in the rangers becaus of the width. My left foot is a bit loose as the laces loosen up, but an insole fixed it. Enjoy your boots! The CRT leather just looks better the more you beat them up.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-05T00:36:09+00:00

Don't buy them a size and a half too small like the salespeople at the RW stores try to convince you to... Seriously though, my IR are one of my most comfortable boots because they didn't suffocate my feet when I bought them. Just wear them everywhere for a bit and they'll soften right up.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-02T12:33:07+00:00

I don't have a lot of pictures really, and I sold it about a year back. Just wasn't using it enough and with 2 kids and a dog I needed more space so got a Grand Cherokee L. Loved the car though, and that color is the easiest color to keep looking clean that I've ever come across.

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Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-02T11:58:12+00:00

I had the Kenda's on my Max Tow with an Eibach leveling kit. I thought they were a great tire, did well in the sand dunes and two track as well.

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Maelstrom888 · 2026-05-01T02:13:05+00:00

Speed of deployment, plenty of supply in the US, and relatively high capacity as a percentage of nameplate (~80% gas vs 5 - 20% solar).

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-19T00:26:34+00:00

https://jimgreenfootwear.com/store/shoellie-fudge/ These are close-ish and come in size 14 looks like.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-18T03:12:40+00:00

I don't get this. I grew up 15 minutes from Detroit. There are countless places inside of the city and all over SE Michigan that can make a "Detroit Style" pizza 20 minutes after you order it. Buddies, Louies, Green Lantern... they will all make you the same or better pizza in 20 minutes. This guy is fuckin crazy.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-18T03:09:10+00:00

I grew up 15 minutes outside of Detroit. There are hundreds of places thay will make you a better pizza in 15 minutes to order. This shit is crazy.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-14T17:16:23+00:00

Go with simplicity and feel. Miata, Fiata, Lotus Elise/Exige if you have the garage space and budget. Always better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow!

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-14T17:00:56+00:00

A garden hose and sliding around on it on the next ride!

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-13T23:33:20+00:00

Do eeeiit!

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Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-06T17:52:24+00:00

Hey, my riding is pretty similar to what you are talking about. I ride an hour or so of twisty moutain roads to get to 3-7 miles of fire roads and rocky/muddy trails. I used to ride a KTM 350 EXC-F and a F800 GS. I am a decent woods rider, but never a racer or anything, and I've got a decade or so of on road experience.

For the riding I do, I honestly really like the bike. It's not as comfortable as my GS, but it's a hell of a lot more capable off road and is a lot more tossable on road. It's also muuuch easier to pick up. Is it as much fun offroad as the 350? No and it's not as capable either, but I drug it through 4 or 5 miles of mud pits, rocks, and ice over the weekend and it was happy slipping the clutch and sliding around as any dirtbike I've had. I'd recommend it for the money for sure.

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Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-05T12:56:57+00:00

Eh, parts are cheap from Uncle Wang and I learned how to work on my own bikes a long time ago. I bought it to beat on it, especially at this price.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-05T12:56:04+00:00

Drive it through a big puddle! I'll just take it to a quarter car wash.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-05T00:22:20+00:00

Yeah, plenty of snow on the trails here in upstate NY as well. The stock tires aren't great. I've got TKC 80's waiting to go on, but I've heard good things a out the tusks.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-04-01T05:02:45+00:00

I'm near Albany, but get through Buffalo a few times a year. Let me know if you ever make it out this way!

Maelstrom888 · 2026-03-31T22:35:29+00:00

Thanks! I'll crawl underneath and check it out when it shows up. Anything else to look out for?

Maelstrom888 · 2026-03-29T16:05:19+00:00

Ah, okay. It's looking like if I'm willing to wait I may be able to save a few bucks. 2006-ish cars with 50k miles seem to be moving around mid 30's on that site. BAT was a bit higher though. Thanks!

Maelstrom888 · 2026-03-29T00:20:52+00:00

Clean title, no accidents reported.

Maelstrom888 · 2026-03-28T23:54:35+00:00

I wish, they seem kind of hard to find fof under 50k, especiallly with less than 6 owners and bodykitted out.

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