Yes, New York is a high-tax state. I think the taxes are killing us. Having said that, New York is an incredibly beautiful state. (The Finger Lakes Region is especially so.) You don't see that beauty from the thruway. Also New York is a great fly-fishing state. It is the home of the Catskill Rivers, the birthplace of fly fishing in America. And most of these waters are open to the public.
I guess sometimes you have to put up with the bad to get the good.
Randy