From the Editor This month’s letter comes from your humble Associate Editor, because our special cover section “Happy to Be Here” hits so close to home for me. Buffalo is not my birthplace, but it’s undeniably my home, and has been for my entire adult life. I moved here from the Deep South twenty-three years ago for grad school, stumbled into my first real job downtown soon thereafter, and have lived here ever since. There have even been times when I’ve completely forgotten that I spent significant time anywhere else. In this issue, you will hear the stories of many other transplants to WNY—people who consciously chose to move here, as well as natives who have returned after living elsewhere. Theirs is a perspective worth considering, especially after so much talk of the (all too real) “brain drain” that robs the area of so many of its talented young adults. I’ve often thought Buffalo’s nickname should be “the City of Low Self-Esteem,” because it frequently seems that the area’s worst enemy is its poor opinion of itself. In such conditions, it may be wise to remember that, while some people leave, others arrive from parts unknown—for a job, an education, a relationship—and find themselves embracing their new surroundings, free of the baggage that plagues those who grew up here. After you’ve read their thoughts about what’s so special (for better and for worse) about Buffalo, perhaps you’ll want to share your own perspective. Whether you’re also a transplant, or have spent your life in Western New York, we welcome you to reflect on the matter on our blog (www.spreeblog.com). In this holiday season—a traditional time to reconnect with family members and old friends in other parts of the world—we invite you to think about your concept of “home.” Are you truly happy to be here? If so, how can you communicate that to others? If not, what are you doing to make your hometown a better place? Happy holidays from everyone at Buffalo Spree, Back to the Table of Contents Back to Top