When you have a good thing, the tendency is to keep it to yourself.
Living in our area is a very good thing, and for one reason or another, is one of the best-kept secrets in the country when it comes to folks in other places knowing how good we have it.
With low crime rates, relatively modest housing costs, beautiful scenery, delicious and abundant water and good public schools, living here beats the heck out of being part of the madding crowd.
But there can be too much of a good thing, or rather, too few people to share it with.
Like most of Upstate New York, our four counties are getting older, and our economy is stagnant.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported last week that since 2000, Otsego and Schoharie counties have grown very little in population, while Delaware and Chenango are losing people.
``A lot of it can be attributed to an aging population in our area,'' said Otsego County Planner Psalm Wyckoff.
Another factor is that nationwide, 60 percent of population growth comes from immigration, and the rest from births.
It stands to reason that older folks won't have as many babies as younger people, and if there aren't a lot of people moving here, we're not going to see growth in our economy.
Here are the numbers:
Otsego County, with a population in 2007 of 62,397, gained 721 people, a 1.2 percent increase.
Delaware County, with a population of 46,286, lost 1,771 people, a 3.7 percent decrease.
Schoharie County, with a population of 32,063, gained 481 people, a 1.5 percent increase.
Chenango County, with a population of 51,207, lost 194 people, a 0.4 percent decrease.
We often hear the complaint that while our colleges are excellent, and we have a ready-made, intelligent workforce, there are pitifully few local jobs for students when they graduate.
Where there are jobs, people will follow, but New York's high taxes and expensive energy rates are keeping businesses from seriously considering locating here.
But the economy is an uncertain thing. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was in Oneonta last week, sounding optimistic that our area can attract manufacturing jobs despite its handicaps.
He is one of the sponsors of a Senate bill that would increase federal grant funding for sewer plant upgrades. That's something that would be vital for a large company interested in our towns and city.
Let's not fool ourselves. It won't be easy to attract new businesses and residents. Lack of housing is a big problem, as are our fierce winters. The biggest obstacle, however, is somnolent leadership at the county and local levels.
Bold ideas and initiatives will be what brings our area out of its lethargy and attracts more people to share in this wonderful part of America we call home.
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