New research by the UK’s University of Warwick and Hamilton College in the US has used the happiness levels of a million individual US citizens to discover which are the best and worst states in which to live. New York came in dead last and I demand a recount!

Surely, they didn’t interview anyone who resides in Westchester, Putnam or Dutchess counties of New York? What do we have to be unhappy about? OK – so our property taxes are a bit high in some areas, but look at everything we’ve got:

• Close proximity to NYC – you can jump on a train and be at a Broadway show in 30 minutes to an hour, depending where you live.
• Activities galore: golfing, biking, hiking, fishing, boating, swimming, skiing, horseback riding – are you getting the point?
• Shopping – we have some of the greatest shopping in our area – no need to go to the city to shop!
• Beautiful landscape – we are surrounded by beauty from Long Island Sound to the majestic Hudson river to the mountains up North and all the lakes and reservoirs in between. We have 4 beautiful seasons each year.
• Restaurants – any type of cuisine you could possibly crave is right here – again, no need to go to the city!
• Public Schools that have made the Top 100 list of America’s Best High Schools.
• The New York Yankees - OK – so you either love them or you hate them but since they’re champs this year, what’s not to love?

So, let me hear some hand clapping because clearly there are a lot of reasons to be happy about where we live. What do you love most about where you live?