Curious snowbird?

[Sunset]

We are heading down just for week holiday, then catch a cruise for another week in the Caribbean.
One thing I like to do (besides wishing I had a kayak with me), is to go to an outdoor gun range, it's so pleasant rather than being inside.

We walk the beach, walk in parks, see the wildlife, think about moving to FL.

 

[Cayman]

I personally would recommend leaving, and spending the winter hibernating in the cold. And tell all of your friends to do that too. You're right, it's just not worth it. Boring, fire ants, hurricanes, etc. Get away while you still can.

Yes, run. Run quickly.

 

[Ronstar]

OP - Find out what you enjoy at home and make provisions so that you can enjoy the same things in Florida. Hobbies, etc. I spend 4 months a year in a small Arizona condo and 8 months a year in a bigger Illinois house with a detached workshop. I miss my Illinois workshop when I'm in Arizona, but I've put together a mini workshop to satisfy my workshop craving while snowbirding.

 

[HadEnuff]

I'm in Bonita Springs too, we own a small house. Originally I wanted to rent for 3-4 months, but we couldn't find anybody that would rent to us with our 4 (now 3) small dogs. But it has worked out well, and FL is now our primary residence. This should help a bit with the new tax plan, since we don't have state and local taxes other than property taxes. But my issue isn't boredom, it's not having enough time to do all the things I want to do. I hike (Bird Rookery is a totally amazing place, if you like gators and other wildlife) and kayak. We do some gardening. I cook out on the grill 2-3 times/week. I'm getting scuba certified this year, and was also thinking about getting my concealed carry permit. It's not that there's so much more to do here (FL in general) than anywhere else, it's just that you can do it when most people are stuck inside because of the winter. Especially in our other home, where we're in a rural (except in summer season) beach area. It's windy and cold, and there aren't places like big malls or anything you can go to when you get cabin fever. So it's working for us. I suspect in a rental or a trailer you might not spend as much time on gardening and home repairs and such as we do, but even so, sitting out by a pool or going to the beach isn't a bad way to spend a day, vs. watching daytime tv out of boredom.

Well, this is exactly what DW and I were discussing. I get out just about every day I can even in the dreary cold NY State winter, unless there is snow and ice on the ground and sidewalks. We've had relatively mild and snow-free winters the last few years, so I maybe living in a false sense of reality. DW does not get out nearly enough in the winter IMO, but she seems less affected by being stuck indoors than I am. I go nuts when I can't get out and get some fresh air. I think that this is what will eventually drive us to spending at least 2 or 3 months in sunny Florida.

 

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

Buy a ukulele! I've found it fills the bits of leisure time and then find a uke club to join. Great one in Panama City, St Andrews.

 

[kcowan]

Started in 1996 with 3 weeks. Increased in 2002 to one month on the FL east coast, then in 2003 another month on FL west coast. Gradually built up to 5+ months (in Mexico).

We are much more active socially during the winter, with people from all over the US and Canada.

 

[brucethebroker]

5th year of snowbirding on the FL gulf coast. Love to hit yard and estate sales. Love to walk, ride bicycles and read books on the beach. Blue sky and 70's plus temps., for most of Jan-march. Lots of spring training professional baseball nearby.

My friend asked why we do it. "I figure another 10-15 years left of life. Why spend 25% of it with gray days, brutal cold and snow? I would rather live in eternal spring summer type weather!" But, as DW says, it's not for everybody.

 

[Sunset]

Well, this is exactly what DW and I were discussing. I get out just about every day I can even in the dreary cold NY State winter, unless there is snow and ice on the ground and sidewalks. We've had relatively mild and snow-free winters the last few years, so I maybe living in a false sense of reality. DW does not get out nearly enough in the winter IMO, but she seems less affected by being stuck indoors than I am. I go nuts when I can't get out and get some fresh air. I think that this is what will eventually drive us to spending at least 2 or 3 months in sunny Florida.

It's the winter snow and ice on the sidewalks and roads that make it hard to walk around.

Canadian's might be suprised, but in our IL neighborhood, the sidewalks fill up with snow and are left full by the city, never plowed. The streets are plowed for the worship of cars, but walking on the street is dangerous as that is for the cars.

That's why I like warmer places in Winter, so we can walk around, other than in a shopping mall or a treadmill.

 

[Danmar]

We were in Canada for about a month over Christmas. It was FREEZING. Back in Arizona now and it is beautiful. Mid 70’s mostly sunny. Love this place. Our nicest house.

 

[brett]

We done snow birding in SE Asia or Central America for the past five years. We got tired of Florida, etc. Started with Thailand on a whim booking and ten days later we were there. Five years later we are again preparing to leave for two months. The flight is a bear. Might be our last year. Wonderful beaches, interesting sights, friendly people, and relatively low cost.

Looking at doing two one month condo rentals in Panama, Costa Rica, or Puerto Vallarta areas next winter. Somewhere were out daughter and family can join us for a few weeks.

 

[calico1597]

We snowbird to the west, Arizona. Completely different experiences than Illinois, love the mountain views. We have a jeep set up for mountain rides, have joined a four wheeling club, life is good. Our 7th winter in this state. We started out in our motorhome, working at a state park in exchange for our Colorado River campsite, then rented a house, now our first winter in a purchased house in a Dell Webb community. We stayed three months in past winters, this year we've staying four months.

 

[harley]

We done snow birding in SE Asia or Central America for the past five years. We got tired of Florida, etc. Started with Thailand on a whim booking and ten days later we were there. Five years later we are again preparing to leave for two months. The flight is a bear. Might be our last year. Wonderful beaches, interesting sights, friendly people, and relatively low cost.

Looking at doing two one month condo rentals in Panama, Costa Rica, or Puerto Vallarta areas next winter. Somewhere were out daughter and family can join us for a few weeks.

That sounds really interesting. I agree about FL, it gets so crowded it's hard to go out during the daylight hours (where we are, anyway). I usually wait and do my shopping or errand running after dark, when the old folks have finished their early bird dinners and are playing cards or watching TV. I'd love to spend some time in CA.

But I hate flying, and I doubt the drive from MD to Costa Rica would work out with DW and the dogs (and the hedgehogs). So while there's lots of room for improvement over the FL experience, I'm just grateful it and it's lovely war weather is here to rescue us from the nasty winter days up north. Crowds and all.

 

[Cayman]

OP - Find out what you enjoy at home and make provisions so that you can enjoy the same things in Florida. Hobbies, etc. I spend 4 months a year in a small Arizona condo and 8 months a year in a bigger Illinois house with a detached workshop. I miss my Illinois workshop when I'm in Arizona, but I've put together a mini workshop to satisfy my workshop craving while snowbirding.

This. Finding hobbies, activities of interest to you will help ensure you enjoy yourself - no matter where you live.

 

[brett]

We did a week in Cancun after Christmas and missed the terribly cold weather.
Ski hill business was down 70 percent between Christmas and New Years because of the cold.

It has picked up considerably now, with some extended hours. The extreme cold and snow in the mountains enabled the operators to do grooming and get the hills in shape. I guess next will be avalanche warnings now this it has warmed up a little.

Much better now....just hope it stays this way for another two weeks and then we are outta here. Other than the long flight, 17 hrs, cannot wait to go.

 

[RAE]

We were in Canada for about a month over Christmas. It was FREEZING. Back in Arizona now and it is beautiful. Mid 70’s mostly sunny. Love this place. Our nicest house.

We just arrived in south-central Texas this afternoon. Very nice here, 68 degrees. It was below zero when we left northern Michigan three days ago. This is the first time we've rented in this area, but so far we love it. Nice weather, beautiful rental house. I'm very happy to be staying down here for a while.

 

[Tom52]

I shoveled snow today in about -15F windchill. Week from Friday we are heading to Florida for 2 months. Just in the process for renting January thru March 2019 in Florida. So long as we are healthy enough to travel we will always snowbird. We are much less likely to get bored when the weather is nice compared to being nearly housebound in these arctic temperatures.

 

[Plantman]

We went home (NEOhio) for the holidays and are now back in Florida for another month. We are staying at a different resort this time and I think I like this one better. Once again it's cold and snowy back home and I am laying out by the pool daily. Perhaps I will get the hang of this snowbird life after all!

 

[Midpack]

We're thinking about becoming snowbirds, but we can't get past:

• it has to be considerably more expensive...
• ...unless we literally had two homes that were in total the same cost as one retirement house (having once nice house vs two substantially smaller homes?)
• the logistics sound tough, what to move, what to have duplicates of, someone to watch over the vacant home and forgetting to shut off or start up some service
• but most of all, how do you have real friends in two places, only 6 months out of the year with each set?

The weather advantage is clear, and we'd actually like a change or scenery every 6 months or so.

 

[Meadbh]

We're thinking about becoming snowbirds, but we can't get past:

• it has to be considerably more expensive...
• ...unless we literally had two homes that were in total the same cost as one retirement house (having once nice house vs two substantially smaller homes?)
• the logistics sound tough, what to move, what to have duplicates of, someone to watch over the vacant home and forgetting to shut off or start up some service
• but most of all, how do you have real friends in two places, only 6 months out of the year with each set?

The weather advantage is clear, and we'd actually like a change or scenery every 6 months or so.

I have many friends who are snowbirds. Some of them rent. Some have a trailer in the sunny location. And some own homes there. Those are the people for whom money is no, or just a little, object. One couple bought a completely furnished condo at an estate sale. And they do sometimes run into problems, such as health issues that spark a quick exit, or inability to drive back to base, vehicle woes, etc. My impression is that the people who successfully develop and maintain two circles of friends are extroverts who spend the maximum possible time at each location and take part in every possible activity. I don’t think it’s for me.

 

[LiveBelowMeans]

Depending on income situation, 6 months and a day in Florida can pay for the place in Florida.

 

[W2R]

If I was thinking about becoming a snowbird, here's what I'd do:

(1) I'd take a 1-2 month vacation at the location I'd be snowbirding to, renting or living in an extended stay place.

(2) While there, I'd consider whether I'd rather actually LIVE there 24/365 and occasionally vacation to my present location to see old friends, relatives, or whatever. I'd also think about just keeping things the way they are and if that would make me happier.

Then I'd make up my mind, and commit to one location where I want to live. I could be wrong, but to me the whole snowbird thing seems like a terribly expensive consequence of the fear of commitment.

 

[ivinsfan]

If I was thinking about becoming a snowbird, here's what I'd do:

(1) I'd take a 1-2 month vacation at the location I'd be snowbirding to, renting or living in an extended stay place.

(2) While there, I'd consider whether I'd rather actually LIVE there 24/365 and occasionally vacation to my present location to see old friends, relatives, or whatever. I'd also think about just keeping things the way they are and if that would make me happier.

Then I'd make up my mind, and commit to one location where I want to live. I could be wrong, but to me the whole snowbird thing seems like a terribly expensive consequence of the fear of commitment.

This is the conclusion my DH and I came to after thinking for at least 10 years that we wanted to buy a snowbird home.

I don't know if it's fear of commitment or wanting to have the best of both worlds, but in our case we decided 4-8 weeks in a different location every winter renting an upscale home or property worked for us.

 

[braumeister]

Not for us, but at least a third of the owners in my condo development are snowbirds of one type or another. Most of them go for only 3-4 months, but some for 6-7 (and have their tax home in the other state). A couple go north in the summer, the rest go south in the winter. Nearly all have homes they own in the other state in addition to the one here.

Talking with them I get the sense that they all absolutely love it. Climate is very important to them, and they're the type who can find activities to enjoy anywhere (most are avid golfers and tennis players).

 

[RAE]

We're thinking about becoming snowbirds, but we can't get past:

• it has to be considerably more expensive...
• ...unless we literally had two homes that were in total the same cost as one retirement house (having once nice house vs two substantially smaller homes?)
• the logistics sound tough, what to move, what to have duplicates of, someone to watch over the vacant home and forgetting to shut off or start up some service
• but most of all, how do you have real friends in two places, only 6 months out of the year with each set?

The weather advantage is clear, and we'd actually like a change or scenery every 6 months or so.

We've been snowbirding for 8 years now, and we love it. I can't imagine staying back home in the ice and snow during Jan/Feb/March anymore. We've always rented a house where we go, and have had no problems doing that. The cost is quite reasonable, for what we need..........roughly $1500/month or so. We've rented three different homes in the 8 years we've been doing this (at 2 different locations). We made a lot of good friends at the first house, where we were for the first several years. This year, we wanted to experience a new area, and it has worked out well. I'm more of an introvert (and don't need to make a lot of new friends down here), but DW is an extrovert and makes new friends easily through the art classes she attends, church, and other stuff. We have a home temperature monitor so we can check our house temp. daily with our phone or laptop, and also a neighbor that does some snow removal and generally keeps an eye on our house while we are gone (for a small amount of $$). No problems with that arrangement at all. We do bring quite a bit of stuff with us, since you don't know for sure what each new rental home will have, but in general most places are pretty-well equipped. Next year we are renting a new place in Florida (the places we've been so far have all been in Texas), and we are really looking forward to that. Found the place online through VRBO, and it sounds great (and is easily within budget). I love to fish, so I bring a kayak every year, while DW bring all her art supplies. Other than missing the grandkids, there is really no downside for us to spending a few winter months down south every year. We plan to do it as long as we can make the trip.

 

[Rosie]

What's the opposite of a snowbird?

We live in an area that has mild winters -- I can drive to snow in about 1.5 hrs when I have a hankering to go snowshoeing.

But our summers are freaking hot!

We're leaning towards the solution others are suggesting above, renting a place for a few months, but in our case it would be for the cooler summers in the PNW. Our favorite areas include the Olympic peninsula and the San Juan Islands in WA state, and Vancouver Island in CA.

As it is now, we make an annual pilgrimage up that way every summer for a couple of weeks, but DH is finally considering escaping the blast furnace for longer periods, hooray.

Anyone else do snowbirding in reverse?