Snowbird in reverse?

[braumeister]

I live in a temperate area where we get low (well below freezing) temps and a little snow in the winter, and hot (temps in the 90s Fahrenheit) weather in the summer, but most of the year it's pretty good.

The issue is that I really don't like hot weather and if I had my way I would be a reverse snowbird. Moving north for a few months in the summer would be ideal for me. It's not an option because DW is fine with our climate, has lived in this area all her life, and has no interest in going away for months at a time.

There are many threads here from people talking about snowbirding by going to warmer climate for the winter, but I've never seen one addressing my situation.

I wonder if there are others like me here? Is it really so unusual to prefer cool weather all the time?

 

[Golden sunsets]

I know plenty of people who live in FLORIDA for 9 months a year but head north for the summer.

 

[Dawg52]

I have thought about this myself. Haven't done it yet as I would miss playing golf with my buddies, but might start by going somewhere for the month of August. Colorado would my desired cool retreat and use it as a base to explore other states while out there. I'm going to do it, perhaps next year.

 

[pb4uski]

I prefer cool weather too... I melt in heat and humidity... but cool is relative... I'm fine with anything from "sweater weather" (mid 40s to mid 50s) to shorts and t-shirt weather (60s to mid 80s). Anything more than the mid 80s and I'm usually not very comfortable.

A reverse snowbird would be if you went north for the winter and south for the summer.

I would think of you more as a snowbird who doesn't go as far south as most snowbirds.

But alas, since DW has no interest in going away for a few months during the hot Kentucky summer, perhaps air conditioning is your best option.... (or kidnap her and take her north).

 

[Badger]

We live in Florida and until recently we would escape from the summer heat by going to Maine and Canada. We are hoping to return to that schedule in the future but for now try to get outdoors activities done in the morning and save the heat of the day for shopping, groceries, movies or anything indoors where there is air conditioning. We love the winters though.

Cheers!

 

[Danmar]

We have friends in Arizona that go north for the hot summer months. Places they go include Denver, San Diego, and Northern Idaho. There are some beautiful places on lovely lakes in Northern Idaho. If I was an American, that's where I would go if I wanted a "cool"place in the summer. As it is our place near Banff is quite similar to northern Idaho but with more spectacular mountains but less lakes.

 

[Alan]

Since retiring we have done 6 years of moving north for the summer to escape the heat and 1 year we moved south to escape the heat. (5 months in Australia and New Zealand).

 

[marko]

Funny, my neighbor in Florida moves to Venezuela in the winter because Miami isn't hot enough for him.

 

[UtahSkier]

DW and I represent the extreme in Anti-Snowbirding... Salt Lake City in the winter and Scottsdale in the summer! We are skiers, so it worked for us.

Eventually, our lifestyle morphed so we would spend 7 months in Scottsdale and 5 months in SLC.

Most of our Scottsdale neighbors are from Canada and Colorado. We would only see them for a few weeks each year as we had little overlap.

Just sold the Scottsdale home and have a motorhome instead. We will spend the winters and summers in SLC and travel in the motorhome during the spring and fall.

 

[MichaelB]

I wonder if there are others like me here? Is it really so unusual to prefer cool weather all the time?

It's not just the heat - there's also the hurricanes and bad tropical storms. DW loves South Fl, it has a climate very similar to where she grew up. I'm not such a fan, but the poor infrastructure really shows during summer storms when power fails regularly and supplies, such as water, fresh food and gasoline, are not always available.

We spend summer and fall in the Chicago area. Summer, because of the bad weather, and autumn because it is just so beautiful. We also have family in this area, but even of we didn't, I'd look for a summertime option out of the south.

 

[TallTim]

Agree w the other comments that it's more or less seeking temperate year round weather vs snowbirding or reverse snowbirding per se

You might also look at places in the western US. General as you get west of the Rockies you may find more temperate year round conditions - particularly coastal areas of CA WA and OR.


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[FIREd]

I much prefer cool temperatures too.

We will be moving back south in a few months. The weather there is good for 9 months out of the year. I love the Fall and Spring seasons, and winter is pretty cold but sunny and snowless and I like it that way. But the summers are brutal. The high temperatures, humidity, and the damn mosquitoes make it hard to enjoy the outdoors and we end up being cooped up inside, which feels so wrong during the summer. We plan on spending the summers in the Alps (long snowy winters, but great summer weather for outdoor activities and outside living).

 

[Totoro]

I want alot of sunshine and cool weather too. Anything from -10 celsius to 20 is kind of perfect.

Still figuring out the optimal, but might go to Iceland for a few weeks this year to escape the few months here [=Netherlands] that can be toasty.

Koppen climate variation cfc is my target Maybe a touch colder in winter.

 

[Sunset]

We live in Florida and until recently we would escape from the summer heat by going to Maine and Canada. We are hoping to return to that schedule in the future but for now try to get outdoors activities done in the morning and save the heat of the day for shopping, groceries, movies or anything indoors where there is air conditioning. We love the winters though.

Cheers!

I have a friend who does that as well, goes to Canada for 4 months spanning the summer.

 

[haha]

I live in a temperate area where we get low (well below freezing) temps and a little snow in the winter, and hot (temps in the 90s Fahrenheit) weather in the summer, but most of the year it's pretty good.

The issue is that I really don't like hot weather and if I had my way I would be a reverse snowbird. Moving north for a few months in the summer would be ideal for me. It's not an option because DW is fine with our climate, has lived in this area all her life, and has no interest in going away for months at a time.

There are many threads here from people talking about snowbirding by going to warmer climate for the winter, but I've never seen one addressing my situation.

I wonder if there are others like me here? Is it really so unusual to prefer cool weather all the time?

People from your area used to send the family up to some lake or other in Michigan, or if more upscale was wanted to Cape Cod.

I used to live on an island in North Sound which was very cool and nice. Seattle is hotter, though I think it has been unseasonably hot the last few years. I hate hot weather. My GF just got back from a Texas visit, she says it was at or near 100F everyday. But she likes this.

Ha

 

[braumeister]

People from your area used to send the family up to some lake or other in Michigan, or if more upscale was wanted to Cape Cod.

Even the UP gets pretty hot in midsummer, and Cape Cod would be impossible due to the hordes of tourists clogging the roads (same goes for the Maine coast which I love otherwise).

I would probably be happiest along the west coast, about from Monterey to Vancouver, or northern Washington/Idaho.

And in fact I do sometimes go to those areas, but I don't enjoy being away from DW for more than 2-3 weeks at a time and I have to get back.

Sometimes I think I'm just a Canadian who happened to be born in the US.

 

[kcowan]

Even when we lived all year in Vancouver, we found the gray skies depressing all winter once we had retired. Now that we winter in PV, we could probably enjoy summer anywhere from Monterey to Bracebridge, anywhere west to east. But inertia keeps us where we are.

 

[davismills]

Our plan is 2 months in Florida (Jan-Feb) and two months in Maine (July-Aug). Other than those months, we're happy in middle GA. We're caring for an elderly parent right now, so the plan is on hold.

 

[Danmar]

Even when we lived all year in Vancouver, we found the gray skies depressing all winter once we had retired. Now that we winter in PV, we could probably enjoy summer anywhere from Monterey to Bracebridge, anywhere west to east. But inertia keeps us where we are.

Beautiful in the Kawarthas this morning, but heading up to low 30's this PM. Hard to beat Ontario cottage country in the summer.

 

[Danmar]

Sometimes I think I'm just a Canadian who happened to be born in the US.

 

[woodguy00]

Our plan is 2 months in Florida (Jan-Feb) and two months in Maine (July-Aug). Other than those months, we're happy in middle GA. We're caring for an elderly parent right now, so the plan is on hold.

This is our similar plan, for the moment anyway, but a bit further west. We're thinking NW Arkansas for perhaps 8 months of the year with Jan-Feb in Arizona or South Texas and then July - August in the Rockies. Escape the coldest and hottest times. Bought a fifth wheel trailer to make it work. Once we decide to no longer camp or travel that much, we will have some roots down in AR where it's relatively decent throughout the year and we have family.

 

[Ronstar]

I've spent parts of summer in Scottsdale and a lot of winters in Chicagoland. It's much better spending the winter in az.


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[Danmar]

I've spent parts of summer in Scottsdale and a lot of winters in Chicagoland. It's much better spending the winter in az.


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Certainly agree that Arizona is better in the winter. In fact I would say it's great for about 8 months a year. The summers are brutal though. A week or two ago they hit 118F. Been there once or twice when it was 115F. Not fun. The pool was 93 degrees without the heater. I don't mind if up to 90-95F above that no thanks. Of course it is, as they always say, a dry heat. North Scottsdale is usually a couple degrees cooler than Paradise Valley but I doubt they would notice.

 

[Big_Hitter]

one of my neighbors moved from AK and says it's way too hot here (ID)


we're having a very mild summer - I think the high yesterday was 84 and projected to be highs in the 70s this weekend - love it

 

[johnnyfuego]

I think I will take the advice of a friend and use his 3-90 rule. Back in the day, when he had 3 days in a row of 90+ degree days down here in Texas, he would hook up the fifth wheel and head to Ouray or Silverton until the fall, then head back. I'm a bit behind schedule, I'd better get packing!