I am embarressed to say that I have had a used Bundy for the last 36 years of my musical life. It is all I have ever known and kind of like a member of the family! I have been playing in our city municipal band for the past 4 years. I am not the best, but now the worst either. I have about $2000 to spend. Where do I even begin looking????? I know nothing about any of the brands and need some kind of direction.

One thing that you may consider is whether you want to get new or used.

You may be able to get a much finer flute that is slightly used (And in fine condition) than buying a new one. This depends upon your preferences.

BEcause buying a flute should involve trying a lot of them out if at all possible, it may help to know your general location as to where you may want to explore different flutes.
You also may be near to the location of an annual flute festival that someone my know about.

You could get on the internet and see what musical stores near you (or anywhere) specialize in flutes, or at least wind and brass. If you have some money to spend you could find a good second hand, used, and have fun with a little trip to find it as well. The best fun I had recently was a trip to Manhattan to buy a Clarinet. Lots of stores and loads of instruments to try out. Brand can be a "snobbish" thing or just giving in to advertising or peer pressure. The instrument you like best is the one to buy not the one everyone tells you to buy. So go somewhere you can test many.

As for as location goes, I am 70 miles straight west of Chicago.

I would have suggested going around the bottom of thelake and then east to Detroit. Fluteworld.com does have some used and many good new models in stock but that's a bit of a distance to drive. Perhaps, there's some store in the Chicago area that has something or there may very well be a flute festival.

I would consider consulting one of the flute clubs such as at:
http://www.chicagofluteclub.org/index.html

They should have had a flute festival
but their web page is for last year's event.

http://www.chicagofluteclub.org/flute-festival.html

or maybe contact this club:

Quad City Flutes Unlimited
125 31st Ave.
Moline Illinois 61265
USA

just a few ideas.

Go to the Flute World site, call them up and have a few flutes sent to you on trial. Basically anything listed on their site are going to be substantial flutes as they won't sell you junk. The rest is up to you and what fits well into your hands. If you call them, ask for Diane (NOT Barb) and she will help you with any of your questions. She is very helpful and nice.

thank you all for a much needed "direction"!

I will begin my adventure!

Cherie