Sorry about the late reply, but..
I'm in the Western New York area! I actually live in Orchard Park (right near the Bills stadium). Coincidentally, I was also very new to the '02 scene in august of 2015, as I purchased my '72 Malaga 2002 in June of 2015.
In fact, I'm kind of kicking myself now for not taking more time to explore the "Regional Groups" section of the forum, as I probably would have noticed this post a lot sooner.
Do you still have your '02, and if so, would you be interested in meeting up sometime? I'm a die-hard car enthusiast who is always looking for other enthusiasts to discuss any and all things automotive.
Speaking of which, if you're not already aware, some people have organized a local "Cars & Coffee" gathering for the Buffalo area that is held on the third Sunday of every month (April through October) at the Eastern Hills Mall parking lot, from about 8 or 9AM to about noon. It actually yields a surprisingly large turnout, with an excellent variety that generally has something for everyone. It is free, and I have had a blast every time i have attended so far. They have a Facebook page with all the information on it, but they are planning on holding the first meet of the year this coming Sunday if you are interested. As long as the weather cooperates, I plan to be there with my '02.