Buffalo is a choice. That is my current thesis. I have been pondering this for some time, and the more I consider it, the more that it seems true. I have witnessed many friends over the past few years, as we all do, leave to follow career paths in other cities. I wish them well, and hope that they find what they are looking for, wherever they decide that they need to move to achieve that goal. Often, I hear how they miss Buffalo, and how they wish they could come back. Buffalo is a special place, in all of our hearts, and its a place we all wish we could live and be successful in.
But, what does this have to do with my thesis that Buffalo is a choice? Well, at the same time that there are those who feel that they have to leave to start a career, or to advance in a career, there are those of us who will go out of our way to have a career and be successful, here in Buffalo. I myself found out the hard way how difficult it is to get into my chosen field of Urban Planning in Buffalo. As many have commented in other posts, Buffalo really does not do much planning, and part of that is because we do not have the positions in government and the private sector to do quality planning. Buffalo graduates numerous Urban Planners from Buffalo State and UB each year, with few if any jobs locally for them to move into. Most have to leave the area to help plan other cities and towns. So, after a year of trying to get a position in Urban Planning, I had a choice, move to another area, or find another career path that will keep me here in Buffalo, my city of choice.
Some of those who have chosen to make Buffalo a Choice - The group from Monday night's Buffalo Rising Mixer at Nektar.
I chose to stay in Buffalo, since Buffalo was the reason I became involved in planning in the first place. I guess I am lucky in that I can still be involved in planning as a citizen, and also be successful in another career path. But if this was not the case, I still believe I would have chosen Buffalo over relocation to another city. Is this being naive? Some would say so. But, I choose Buffalo for the quality of life, to be with my family, and to share the great experiences I have with my friends. I chose Buffalo for the people, the amenities, the culture, the architecture, the nightlife, and a myriad of other reasons. There is more to life than money, and although I found an excellent job in another field that pays significantly more than I would have made as a planner, I would have found a way to stay here and make a life here.
So I ask, is Buffalo a choice? I feel it is. We are not a booming economy, where thousands of people are looking to move here each month. It can be tough to find a good job or career path here, but if you look hard enough, you might just find that place where you fit. Do any of you share similar experiences, or have family and friends that have? Or, am I the crazy one who to chose to stay and seek out a different path towards success?