Hi Maureen, I'm also from Upstate NY. I lived in a small town by the name of Chatham. My husband and I moved down to FL here approx. 6 yrs. ago. I too am relatively new to quilting. I have to admit...once that fabric bug bit me...it was all over! I just love buying fabric and planning what to make next. Honestly, I think I might have to live to be 100 to get everything I want to make done. I belong to a quilting guild here in FL called The Cypress Creek Quilters Guild. There are approx. 140 of us. We have great meetings and I'm learning so much from these ladies. Well, I look forward to meeting everyone and it's nice to see someone from back around my home area in NY. ~ Doreen ~