Linda D,
I totally understand. Ive been stuck on the Cross Bronx where I have seen a pit crew strip a broken down car on the side. So that route unless I bring a protection detail is not for me. The BQE is totally horrible but that's the southern route out. We have left before sunrise and have still gotten stuck there. For Upstate we take the Throgs then head east to 95 and 684 back around to the Tappan Zee. Going north as we live on the East End we just take the ferry and they deposit us in New Landon CT and its easy heading up from there. New York is in such a hole because of having to fund the union mandated pension system there is no way to dig out of this hole and eventually will just have to leave before the bridges corrode and fall in to the rivers leaving no way to get out.