First Southern Migration - Snowbirding

[audreyh1]

And in 2 days at SPI you can see the eighth launch of starship!

Yes, it’s a great place to watch from the southern tip of the island. The first very exciting launch was enough for us though. Almost 2 years ago now.

 

[Flyfish1]

Final thoughts on our first migration. I get the attraction weather wise. We had great weather in Florida, I think one day of rain out of 30. BUT, the mass of people and homes along both Florida coasts is stunning. Almost every inch that is buildable has a golf course community or condos. It is really amazing. By comparison my local New England coastline is relatively unpopulated , and of course it's not but it sure feels less crowded. Home prices are astronomical across the areas of Florida we visited thus precluding any thought of ever purchasing there unless there is a major drop in prices and I suddenly stumble into a million or two...lol. We may return and rent in a couple of years and we may not. DW has mentioned spending some time in AZ or NM next time.

 

[Flieger]

Final thoughts on our first migration. I get the attraction weather wise. We had great weather in Florida, I think one day of rain out of 30. BUT, the mass of people and homes along both Florida coasts is stunning. Almost every inch that is buildable has a golf course community or condos. It is really amazing. By comparison my local New England coastline is relatively unpopulated , and of course it's not but it sure feels less crowded. Home prices are astronomical across the areas of Florida we visited thus precluding any thought of ever purchasing there unless there is a major drop in prices and I suddenly stumble into a million or two...lol. We may return and rent in a couple of years and we may not. DW has mentioned spending some time in AZ or NM next time.

Check out the areas around Punta Gorda/Englewood Florida (West Coast) for lower cost houses! We decided against it due to insurance, but they are definitely in a down cycle right now, and have a glut of houses on the market!

Flieger

 

[Koolau]

Final thoughts on our first migration. I get the attraction weather wise. We had great weather in Florida, I think one day of rain out of 30. BUT, the mass of people and homes along both Florida coasts is stunning. Almost every inch that is buildable has a golf course community or condos. It is really amazing. By comparison my local New England coastline is relatively unpopulated , and of course it's not but it sure feels less crowded. Home prices are astronomical across the areas of Florida we visited thus precluding any thought of ever purchasing there unless there is a major drop in prices and I suddenly stumble into a million or two...lol. We may return and rent in a couple of years and we may not. DW has mentioned spending some time in AZ or NM next time.

If you want to find some space in FL, you just go inland a few miles.

 

[flyoverstate]

We lived in the Tampa area in the 80's, and I'm really glad we did so we don't waste our time now with "snowbird". We bailed on Florida ASAP and now live where the weather is to our liking all year long. We hate to leave here.

Florida was overcrowded 40 years ago. I returned for the first time a few years ago on a business trip, and I couldn't even find our old house, things were completely different. The address of our house had changed completely: house number, road name, town name and zip code! How is that even possible?

I urge anyone considering Florida to take the good advice here and spend time during the snowbird season AND in August. You'll reconsider. Be sure to consider that most rentals kick you out once a month to spray toxic chemicals for bugs. You bag your food and clothing.

 

[Flyfish1]

Crazy! Our friends and family near Vero said they see the "little yellow planes" every so often spraying chemicals to control the mosquito population. My buddy in The Villages said they also spray every so often for bugs.

 

[AudiDudi]

We're about to wrap up our 12th winter in the Valley of the Sun. I've been told it is less expensive than FL. (and no bugs)

 

[Flyfish1]

I was literally looking at VRBO's in the Phoenix area this morning. I have no clue what a good or not good area is, any thoughts ?

 

[AudiDudi]

I was literally looking at VRBO's in the Phoenix area this morning. I have no clue what a good or not good area is, any thoughts ?

A lot depends on what you want. We're in Casa Grande, about 45 miles from PHX and 65 miles from Tuscon. Right at the interesction of I-8 and I-10. Many say there are not enough restaurant choices - not an issue for us. Walmart, Kroger and Safeway are close by. Costco and Sam's Club are in Gilbert about 35 miles away. If you're into hiking, you might try the Apache Junction area, east of PHX near the Superstition mountains. I don't know alot about the Scottsdale, Goodyear, Tempe Surprise areas. There are lots of doctors for routine things but if you need surgery or a major procedure, the local doc will likely do it in Chandler in the big medical center. You will likely find VRBOs all around the area. Scottsdale is, IMO more upscale.

 

[Pluperfect]

If you're into hiking, you might try the Apache Junction area, east of PHX near the Superstition mountains.

You'd better really like hiking. We were looking at staying in Apache Junction recently and drove around, and it was just one RV/mobile home park after another. All of Phoenix concentrates retail at intersections of major streets (which are usually about a mile apart), but AJ was ridiculous. To say there's not a vibrant retail scene there is a huge understatement.

I of course wonder why. Are these huge trailer parks a compound where people don't leave the premises? Not all of them are resorts. Are the residents too poor to buy stuff? Or are they content just to sit at home and not freeze.

You can see for yourself by looking at google maps. There's a little clot of retail on Apache Trail east of Meridian, but scroll around from there and see the dearth.

 

[AudiDudi]

I've driven through the Apache Junction area a few times and you are correct, there are a lot of RV Parks. Some much nicer than others. Some people rarely leave the parks and just do the activities and happy hours. Others might go hike the mountains, go to one of the lakes or go looking for the Salt River wild horses. Personally, I avoid PHX and the only reason we drive thru it is to get to the airport to pickup/drop off someone. Traffic is not good in downtown and we avoid I-10 as much as possible. The 202, 101 and the 60 also get a fair amount of traffic. I don't really care much about retail outside of groceries. Amazon is in the resort here most of the day.

 

[Koolau]

We're about to wrap up our 12th winter in the Valley of the Sun. I've been told it is less expensive than FL. (and no bugs)

No bugs? Is that 'cause the scorpions ate them? Little Sis used to live in Phx and always checked shoes for scorpions.

 

[AudiDudi]

No bugs? Is that 'cause the scorpions ate them? Little Sis used to live in Phx and always checked shoes for scorpions.

There are a few of those, but not a problem where I am - never seen here in 12 yrs. I was thinking more of the flying ones that stick to the windshield.

 

[livingalmostlarge]

Why is the water in TX less inviting than florida? Just curious.

 

[Koolau]

Why is the water in TX less inviting than florida? Just curious.

I can only guess but I assume the gulf water "mud" affects the western part of the gulf more than the eastern side. I found the TX water brown but YMMV.

 

[PlayinwithFIRE]

I might have missed it skimming the topic..but why not stop a bit earlier on the east coast..virginia, north carolina, south carolina ?

You mentioned woodworking-theres a lot of activity on that hobby in NC.

 

[Pluperfect]

I found the TX water brown but YMMV.

Yep, it's brown. It's less brown, bordering almost on not brown, way down in South Padre Island, but in Corpus northward, it's ugly.

There's also the issue of medical waste that washes up on the beach, which has been going on for many years. And when the beach is full of sea grass, you shouldn't walk on it because you can see the needles.

 

[Koolau]

Yep, it's brown. It's less brown, bordering almost on not brown, way down in South Padre Island, but in Corpus northward, it's ugly.

There's also the issue of medical waste that washes up on the beach, which has been going on for many years. And when the beach is full of sea grass, you shouldn't walk on it because you can see the needles.

Is the source known? Seems easy to stop if it's domestic.

 

[doneat54]

So an update on my month long snowbird test. We are now on the east coast side in Vero Beach, The Treasure Coast of Florida. Vero at least is a much smaller city, traffic is a fraction of that found in Naples, etc.. on the Gulf Coast. It's a touch cooler here and has a more manageable feeling to it.
I'm certainly more relaxed here, but I'm bored to tears. I hop in the pool, the hot tub, take a walk, go to the beach, go stroll the shops and dine out and I'm bored. I asked DW if she thought we should plan another winter trip down here and she said " Not for a VERY long time". I'm an avid woodworker and miss my workshop and I miss my local gym workouts. I guess I could have joined a local gym but didn't. Plus, aside from family we don't know anyone around here - so we miss our social connections.
So, how do you snowbirds stay busy, socially connected and active? Is the answer The Villages or a similar "active 55 plus community"? AIrbnb's aren't cutting it for me.

Interesting, and a familiar take. We are New Englanders also. I have never really liked Florida and I swear every time I go there I like it less. Our son lives in the Tampa area, and a couple of our very best friends, who we have known for 35+ years, snowbird in a townhouse in a Golf community in Naples. I tell them that we would come visit them if they lived in Zimbabwe. They are very active there, he is an avid golfer (I am not) they play a lot of Pickleball, weekly social events, etc. and I will agree that some of the best restaurants we have ever been to are there.

But it's still Florida and not our lifestyle. While we/they are very busy, it just feels like Groundhog Day to me. And then the crowds/traffic. Ugh. Like Flyfish1, I have hobbies at home, antique cars, woodshop, and I am always working on SOMETHING. I was bored to tears in FL after just a few days, in spite of doing "stuff", it just wasn't the kind of "stuff" that fuels me. I need to change the oil on something, cut down some trees, make a walkway, put up some shelves, take an old convertible for a drive on a nice day to a favorite local brewery, etc. etc. We live on a large very private lakefront lot in south central NH. Summers are WONDERFUL here. In fact, we are demoing our 125yr old house here and building a new this year, a bit closer to the water.

BUT, we have also come to hate New England winter. A LOT. 23/24 we did a 75day trip hauling a 21 ft RV to San Diego and back (we are actually living in that RV most days this year while the new house is being built). The adventure and fun of the cross country trip was great (we have RV'ed across the coutry a couple times in the past), but we found precious little warm weather. In fact, woke up on morning in Carlsbad CA and it was 16 degrees.

With 20+ mph winds.

And that same morning it was 40 degrees back home in NH!

DW enjoyed it more than me, but we may try it again. Sedona AZ and Temecula CA were favorite spots. Interestingly, DW and I looked at each other around the first of March and said "Yeah, I'm ready to be home now". We got home mid-March.

Then, April 3rd of last year, we got 18" of snow and lost power for 4 days.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. But I was wondering if others who were "never FL" people but wanted to snowbird to warmer climes, have found good alternatives? We do not like high density living of any kind. We travel with our dog and always will have (at least one) dog. And we are fairly social people. Enjoy the outdoors, nature and travel adventures. We are both retired, 63/65 yrs old and pretty healthy.

 

[marinauser]

We have enjoyed Coronado CA for several years. Just across the bay from San Diego and cost is on par with Florida since it is off season in the winter there. Gas is pretty expensive but there are pretty defined rush hours with the military so timing helps with that issue. Very little rain, not too hot and a number of things to do locally as well as easy trips for a day or two to LA or Palm Springs. Temecula wine country is nearby also.

 

[Koolau]

We have enjoyed Coronado CA for several years. Just across the bay from San Diego and cost is on par with Florida since it is off season in the winter there. Gas is pretty expensive but there are pretty defined rush hours with the military so timing helps with that issue. Very little rain, not too hot and a number of things to do locally as well as easy trips for a day or two to LA or Palm Springs. Temecula wine country is nearby also.

We visited Coronado many years ago. We loved it and I think we could have adapted to it (Not sure we could have afforded it). Since then, we have heard from former residents of San Diego that it has become much less safe. I don't know if that translates to Coronado and don't know if one needs to go to San Diego for such things as shopping/entertainment, etc.

 

[Dash man]

We bought our Florida condo back in 2016 and love it. It’s on the southeast coast just south of Boca Raton. The beach is not crowded where we are and the view spectacular. The town we’re in only has one road, the A1A. We tend to not go out on the weekends when the crowds are at their worst. During the week isn’t bad at all. Our condo has various social events and we have friends that live close by. Each year DW’s besties come visit as do her sisters. Ft Lauderdale and Boca Raton provide plenty of entertainment options too.
The only downside has been the cost of owning the condo has increased substantially because of the inspection and new reserve requirements the state has put on the condo owners. Fortunately, we can manage it, but I know it’s been a hardship for some.

 

[Koolau]

I've always been partial to the ocean side beaches of Florida. Miles and miles of nearly deserted beaches to explore.

Thanks for the picture.

 

[mebden]

We bought our Florida condo back in 2016 and love it. It’s on the southeast coast just south of Boca Raton. The beach is not crowded where we are and the view spectacular. The town we’re in only has one road, the A1A. We tend to not go out on the weekends when the crowds are at their worst. During the week isn’t bad at all. Our condo has various social events and we have friends that live close by. Each year DW’s besties come visit as do her sisters. Ft Lauderdale and Boca Raton provide plenty of entertainment options too.
The only downside has been the cost of owning the condo has increased substantially because of the inspection and new reserve requirements the state has put on the condo owners. Fortunately, we can manage it, but I know it’s been a hardship for some.

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And once I sell my property, I will be looking for residency in South Florida as I'm tired of State Taxes biggest waste of tax dollars and I want to keep more of my retirement money LOL

 

[Dash man]

And once I sell my property, I will be looking for residency in South Florida as I'm tired of State Taxes biggest waste of tax dollars and I want to keep more of my retirement money LOL

Beware of auto and homeowners insurance costs, along with property taxes. We keep our Pennsylvania residency since we spend more time there because of the grandkids. Just want to caution you about other expenses here. Insurance costs have skyrocketed.