You packed your bags, waved goodbye to your landlord, and traded the screech of the subway for the sweet sound of crickets. Welcome to the Catskills, friend. But before you get too comfy in your flannel and start googling “how to raise backyard chickens,” there’s something you should know: There are rules here. Unspoken, sacred, weird rules. And if you want to fit in, you’d best learn them fast. Here are the most important ones: 1. The Wave Is Not Optional. Every time you pass a car on a country road, you wave . Doesn’t matter if you know them or not. It’s not a full city wave, either — it’s a subtle lift of the hand or a single-finger raise off the steering wheel. Fail to do this and you might as well have a bumper sticker that says, “I still live in Brooklyn emotionally.” 2. You Do Not Honk. Ever. Unless someone is about to drive into a ditch or hit a deer, you do not honk your horn . Honking is aggressive. Honking is for taxis. Up here, a honk is the rural equivalent of picking a fight. Your horn is for emergencies only — not for telling someone to move it at the stop sign. 3. You Always Check for Ticks (Everywhere. Always.) This isn’t so much a rule as it is survival. Forget to do this and you might end up with Lyme disease and a hefty vet bill (because yes, your dog is definitely getting ticks too). Country life is cute until you find one of nature’s hitchhikers attached to your ankle. 4. The Plow Always Wins. If it snows and you parked on the road, kiss your car goodbye. The town plow is coming and it fears no one. It will push snow with the force of Thor’s hammer, and if your car happens to be in the way, well… that’s between you and your insurance. 5. You Can’t Complain About the Internet. We all know it’s bad. We’re all suffering. But if you say it out loud too often, the locals will start to suspect you haven’t really committed to this life. Just smile, nod, and say something like, “It’s kind of nice to unplug, actually.” Bonus points if you say it while staring dreamily at a hummingbird feeder. 6. Always Accept Zucchini. In late summer, everyone has too much zucchini . It will appear in baskets on porches, in tote bags at yoga, even mysteriously in your backseat. Accept it graciously. Bake it into a loaf. Pretend you wanted five pounds of it. This is how friendships are forged. Final Thoughts: Learn the Code, Love the Life These rules might seem strange at first — especially if you’re used to apartment buzzers and seamless deliveries — but they’re part of what makes Upstate life magical. It's slower, softer, and filled with strange little rituals that connect us all, even when we're miles apart. So go on, raise that steering wheel finger. Someone’s waving back.

We see you. You came upstate with wide eyes, a pre-approval letter, and a Pinterest board full of stone fireplaces and wraparound porches. But… you also asked if the farmhouse comes with central air. Here are the dead giveaways you’re a city person buying in the country — and don’t worry, we love you for it. 1. “Is This Septic Thing Like… Permanent?” Yes. Yes it is. It’s not a phase. Welcome to rural plumbing! And no, the septic inspection is not optional. Trust us on this one. 2. You Asked If the Wi-Fi “Is Like, Strong?” Listen, we get it. Remote work life. Zoom meetings. TikTok. But Upstate life also means learning how to aim your router at the mountain and sacrifice a sock to the internet gods during storms. 3. You Called 2 Acres “A Cute Little Backyard” That’s a homestead, babe. You’re about to own more lawn equipment than shoes. Hope you like mowing. Or… get real friendly with the local landscaping guy named Gary. 4. You Panicked the First Time You Heard Coyotes “It’s a pack! Do we call animal control?!” Nah, they’re just singing. To the moon. It’s their thing. You’ll learn to sleep through it… eventually. 5. You Toured a 19th-Century Farmhouse and Asked: ‘Wait… Where’s the Closet?’ These homes were built before people had stuff. You’ll be lucky if you get a single hook on the back of a door. Solution: vintage wardrobes or learn minimalism real fast. 6. You Brought Iced Coffee to a Showing in January. Iconic, but also: your straw froze mid-sip. Welcome to Upstate winter.  Whether you're house-hunting in hiking boots or still using Google Maps to figure out where you are, just know: you’re doing great. Everyone starts somewhere. And you’re not alone — we all asked where the subway was at some point.

You swore you’d never leave the city. You clutched your MetroCard like a security blanket. But now… something’s changing. If you’re starting to notice these signs, it’s official: you’re becoming one of us. 1. 🧼 You Refer to the City as “Down There” “I’m going down to the city this weekend.” That’s it. You’ve crossed over. You don’t even say “NYC” anymore. Just “the city,” like it’s a place you visit when you need to stock up on bagels and existential dread. 2. You Have a Compost Pile (And You’re Weirdly Proud of It) You used to toss everything into one trash can. Now? You separate scraps like a pro, and if someone gives you a jar of pickled anything, you swoon. Bonus points if you’ve caught yourself saying, “It’s good for the soil.” 3. You Check the Weather Before You Leave the House You used to just go. Now? You’ve got three weather apps and a gut instinct that says, “Storm’s coming.” You’ve also developed strong feelings about mud season, and own more than one kind of boot. 4. 🐾 You Know at Least One Dog by Name (and Possibly a Goat) You don’t know your neighbor’s last name… but you know their dog is named Jasper and he’s a good boy. You’ve also considered chicken names for the flock you don’t even have yet. 5. 🌅 You’ve Caught Yourself Saying, “Wow, look at that sky” You never used to notice sunsets. Now you stop in your tracks and take pictures of clouds like an art student on a soul-searching retreat. You probably sent one to your friend in Brooklyn with the caption “You should move here.” If any of these sound like you… don’t worry. You’re not losing your edge — you’re just trading subway rage for serenity. And honestly? It looks really good on you.

You’ve heard the whispers. You’ve read the Reddit threads. And if you’ve ever said “I could never live upstate,” this one’s for you. Let’s bust a few myths about country life — because not everything north of Westchester is cows and dial-up internet. 1. ❌ Myth: “There’s Nothing to Do Upstate” Reality: Oh really? Between hiking, breweries, bonfires, farmers markets, and chasing down runaway chickens, your calendar fills up fast. And let’s not forget: yardwork is a full-contact sport. Also, the fall festival schedule? It’s like a part-time job. 2. ❌ Myth: “The Internet is Bad or Nonexistent” Reality: This isn’t 1998. Most towns have solid Wi-Fi, and some areas even have fiber. (Yes, fiber, the holy grail of work-from-home dreams.) Just don’t try streaming Netflix during a thunderstorm if you’re on satellite. That’s not a myth. That’s pain. 3. ❌ Myth: “It’s All Trump Flags and Tractor Pulls” Reality: Sure, you’ll see a few of those. But you’ll also find yoga studios in barns, art collectives, vegan bakeries, vintage bookstores, and drag brunch in a firehall. Upstate is a big, weird, wonderful mix — and more diverse than you think. Spoiler: Everyone shops at Tractor Supply, regardless of politics. Chicken feed is nonpartisan. 4. ❌ Myth: “I’ll Be So Isolated” Reality: You may be physically farther apart, but the community vibes are strong. Expect invites to potlucks, porch hangs, trivia night, and town meetings where someone definitely brings homemade pie. Plus, there's always someone with a pickup truck when you need it. 5. ❌ Myth: “I Couldn’t Survive Without Seamless” Reality: You will. You’ll learn to cook, or fall in love with that one pizza place that delivers within a 10-mile radius. Also: there’s no shame in stocking your freezer like a doomsday prepper. We call that wisdom. So go ahead — myth-bust your way north. The country life might just surprise you. And we promise: no one’s going to make you churn butter. Unless you really want to.

So you’ve left behind the bodegas and the bagel shops, said farewell to your doorman and jumped headfirst into the wilds of Upstate New York. Welcome! But buckle up — because there are a few things that definitely catch downstaters off guard when they make the leap. 1. 😳 “You mean… things close?” In NYC, you can get Thai food, a bottle of wine, and a replacement phone charger delivered at 2 a.m. Upstate? If you don’t finish your errands by 7:45 p.m., you’re out of luck. And no, the gas station does not sell kombucha. Pro tip: Sunday hours are a thing. So is the concept of “closed on Mondays.” Plan accordingly or prepare to eat cereal for dinner. 2. ❄️ Snow Isn’t a Crisis. It’s a Personality Trait. Downstate: Flurries mean panic, school closures, and fighting over milk. Upstate: “It’s just a dusting” means 8 inches and a casual morning shovel before work. School’s still open. People still jog. Also, everyone owns a snowblower. Or two. It’s basically a love language. 3. 🐓 Your Neighbor Might Be a Chicken. Literally. You thought “farm fresh eggs” was a trendy Brooklyn brunch thing. Upstate? You’ll actually know the chicken who laid your breakfast. And she might stare into your kitchen window while you cook it. Bonus shock: Yes, goats wear sweaters here in the winter. No, you may not pet them without permission. 4. 🙋‍♂️ People Talk to You. Just Because. NYC: If a stranger talks to you, it’s either a tourist or a red flag. Upstate: The grocery cashier will ask about your day, your mom, and how your tomatoes are growing this year. It’s not weird — it’s just friendly. You’ll be doing it soon, too. Resistance is futile. 5. 🌌 It Gets REALLY Dark at Night Like... dark dark. Not "a streetlamp two blocks away" dark. The stars are stunning — but also? Slightly terrifying at first. No sirens. No headlights. Just... silence and the occasional coyote howl. First few nights you might sleep with the porch light on. It’s okay. We’ve all been there. Whether you’re laughing, adjusting, or wondering how you ever lived without a front porch, Upstate life has its quirks — but that’s what makes it magical. And hey, if the chickens don’t win you over, the fall foliage definitely will.