Now this is one of the main reasons why I prefer intense construction activity in places like New York City. This is the view across the road from my home in Columbia County NY. Columbia County is approximately 110 miles north of Times Square , New York. It has not suffered from the intense over-development of other nearby suburban or semi-rural counties closer to NY like Southern Duchess county or Orange county on the westside of the Hudson River.
It is infected with Deer, Deer ticks, other vermin, lots of mosquitos in the summer and intense cold and lots of snow in the winter. Nevertheless since the land is cheaper and housing costs are naturally cheaper then in the close environs of New York City, there is the inevitable pressure from people who habor the idea of buying a primary residence and commuting 6 hours roundtrip to jobs New York City. People are doing absurd commutes like that already from the Poconos , PA or from mid to lower Duchess County which is about 36 miles to the south of where this picture is taken.
With the rise in gas prices and with the propensity of the Southern Duchess mindset to purchase gas guzzling SUVs, I sometimes wonder (gleefully) what that must be doing to their pocketbook.
The fact that most heat is also fueled by either Oil or electric around here and as I said, it is quite cold for long stretches during the winter, I often wonder how long the development pressure can continue.

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