The Good, Bad and Ugly of Living the Snowbird Lifestyle

I remember about 30 years ago seeing my Grandparents living the snowbird

lifestyle. Their commute was between Michigan from June through late August and then to Florida the rest of the year. They had achieved this lifestyle through living a life of hard work and my Grandfathers pension that he earned while working for National Gypsum.

The days of pensions are pretty much gone for the majority of us. But just to set the record straight, my Grandparents would not have been able to live that lifestyle just on my Grandfathers pension. It also require the significant savings and investments that they had accrued through the years.

The reality of today is that people do not have the resources to afford the snowbird lifestyle. What is a person to do?

Another ugly truth, is that many people never retire. We all know the 401k we were all 'sold', that was ‘supposed’ to be our ‘retirement’, is nothing more than a pipe dream.

In my case, I know that beginning at the turn of the century my 401k had become a 201k and then when 9-11 happened and the twin tower collapse my 201k was turned into a 101k which is nothing more than a small contribution to Wall Street.

Let’s face it, very few of us have an ongoing income that can provide for living expenses and orovide a decent lifestyle. Many of the babyboomers have resigned themselves to working some kind of job for the rest of their lives. 

If living the snowbird lifestyle is something that you want to pursue then the first place to start, is figuring how you can manage your living expenses on less and find a means of building additional income through other means.

The snowbird lifestyle can be fairly cheap but if you decide you want to belong to exclusive clubs, your expenses can skyrocket. No matter how you slice or dice it, snowbird living is pretty hard to do on the cheap.

Your expenses may include a second home (or rental); travel insurance. taxes and other legal issues, and daily living necessities. Add to that any entertainment that you might want to partake at your summer location and expenses are just nothing but one big problem when it comes to living like a snowbird.

The ugly truth is, you may not be able to achieve this kind of living with your current circumstances. However, in the age of the internet you may be able to supplement your income through online earnings. My favorite site to learning about ways to make money online is the website, "Real Ways To Earn Money Online".

Some snowbirds live their winters in Florida and summers in Canada. If you decide that you would like an international lifestyle then you will need to keep in mind the currency value change and the tax forms which can be a headache. Even if you stay within the United States, if you decide to own property, there can still be property tax discrepancies between states.

If you have a home in each location, then you have to be willing to leaving your dwelling unattended for months. In this day and age deserted homes can be an invitation to squatters, burglars and thieves. As a homeowner, you need to find someone that you can trust to keep an eye on things while you are away. They need to especially pay attention to burst pipes, roof leaking or basement flooding along with keeping the property groomed and safe.
Another consideration is if you have an illness that requires regular medical attention, you can run into issues with insurance across state lines and finding regular medical care can prove to be difficult.

These are the bad but some of the bad can be overcome by living out of a RV during the summer months. Which can be pretty nice since every year you can choose a different location to live or travel around for the entire summer. When summer is over just take your summer home to your winter home and put it away. I know, easier said than done, right?

Another solution to this would be live in an area that is designed around summer living. I know where I grew up in Michigan there were resorts that were only open in the summer months. You rented the little resort cabin for the summer months and then returned for the winter. In some places you can become a regular guest and reserve the same place from year to year.

My sister has a summer trailer that is about 2 hours north from where they live. During the summer they go there every weekend but when winter comes they shut everything down and don’t return until summer starts again. There are people in this same park that live there all summer long and when winter comes they go back south to Texas, Florida, Arizona or where ever they spend the winter. The homes are modular and there is a year around attendant that keeps and eye on everything.

Finally, the good to snowbird living.

Snowbird living means you spend the winter in the warm, southerly climates and move back to your "regular home" or at least another home during the spring and summer.

Snowbirds stay active and the stimulating lifestyle is conducive to having a healthy mind and body. There is always an opportunity to see new thing and meet new people, keeping snowbirds engaged in life and learning.

If you are a social person, being a snowbird usually means visiting with others. Some snowbirds overwinter with relatives or friends building memories that will last a lifetime. Others stay in an area where they will meet new people. However you do it, being a snowbird can help keep you healthy socially.

I am originally from Michigan and I remember shoveling snow from the driveway just in time for the snowplow to come by. The driveway that took me 30 minutes to shovel was blocked in 2 seconds by a oncoming plow. I can also remember looking outside, knowing I have to go to the store and I could not see my car under the drifts of snow. A fifteen minute trip to the store took an hour because 15 to 20 minutes was devoted to clearing off the car and that doesn't include shoveling out the tires if they were snowed in. Obviously, it was not like that every day but I bet it was about every two weeks we would get another snow coming through that required physical removal.

As a snowbird you can put away the shovel. Snow removal is no longer a chore that a snowbird has to deal with.

That is the good the bad and the ugly of snowbird living. If you still want this lifestyle, then comeback to this blog where I will share more with you about overcoming the ugly so you just have to deal with the good and the bad.

Why Be a Snowbird?

Have you ever wondered why some people pack everything up and move to a different place every winter? Do you have neighbors whose homes stand empty all winter, while everyone else decorates their homes for the holidays? Sometimes, those of us who stay put over the winter wonder, why be a snowbird?
There are actually all kinds of reasons why people choose to live the snowbird lifestyle, and you might be surprised by some of them.
Comfort is probably at the top of the heap when it comes to deciding to live this lifestyle.
For some people, winter is very unpleasant. They don't tolerate cold weather, and they may find it difficult, impossible, or just plain aggravating to scrape snow off of their cars and shovel their driveways. Snowbirds find warm temperatures and sunshine far more comfortable, and it may be for reasons that go beyond personal preference. For instance, people with chronic conditions like arthritis may really suffer in the cold, as do those who have surgical metal rods in their bodies. And then there are those snowbirds who just prefer warm weather.
Physical Health may not allow for the rigors that come with cold weather and snow removal.
Back in the days when tuberculosis was a significant scourge and there were no antibiotics available, patients were sometimes sent to a different climate to cure their ailment. While most snowbirds don't have TB, many of them do have health reasons for going to a warmer climate during the winter. As noted above, some people have metal in their bodies due to surgery to repair a broken bone, and metal conducts cold and makes for a painful winter. Other snowbirds want to escape the cold and flu season, especially if they have compromised immune systems.
Emotional Health as in not seeing the sun for more than 3 months.
Most of us know about SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder/Depression. This is not something to take lightly - SAD can be debilitating for some people. Moving out of the winter darkness and spending the season in sunshine and warmth is a great remedy. Even if they don't have SAD, some snowbirds just really feel happier and more content when they are in a warmer place with lots to do and people to see.
Need for Change as in change of surroundings and not just change of furniture.  Some people just don't like to be cooped up. They want to get out, meet new people, and have adventures and new experiences. It's sometimes hard to do that when everyone is holed up for winter. Moving to a warmer climate provides opportunities for snowbirds to have cookouts, attend picnics, and go sight-seeing. For elderly folks, being snowbirds means helping keep the mind sharp, too, with new experiences and people to see.
Making new Good Memories. Do you know anyone who has lost a loved one during the holidays or winter months? Such a loss can make you dread wintertime and the memories it conjures up. Sometimes, a personal loss can occur at any time of year, but the holiday season is too hard to celebrate without that person. So families, individuals, or couples move out of the home and climate that reminds them of their loss and head for somewhere that's not associated with the late loved one.
These are just a few of the reasons that people choose the snowbird lifestyle. For you it may be something else. Maybe you just want to try out the life on the road in an RV? Maybe you just want to experience life in a different location in the USA? Many people have found they can make a living from the internet. Some are working with Amazon using FBA or affiliate. Some have found employers that allow employees to telecommute full time. In this age of the internet its just up to you.

Overwintering on a Budget

Does the snowbird lifestyle - where you spend the winter in a warmer location - appeal to you, but it's just too expensive? Many people are attracted to the idea of getting some sun and warmth during the winter, and for some, it's a health issue. But isn't it expensive to be a snowbird? Isn't that what retired people with lots of money do?

Not necessarily. In this day and age, there are more options for younger and/or less wealthy people to spend the winter in a warm location. If you want to overwinter on a budget, here are some tips and suggestions.
Camping - Okay, camping may not sound like a luxury vacation; but camping doesn't have to be roughing it in tents, either (although that's fine too, of course!). An affordable compromise is the RV, camper, or mobile home. If you plan to go south every year, consider buying such a vehicle. Check your local classifieds for ads. You might also consider a micro bus or van-style camper.
You can also rent an RV and drive it to your southerly location. You'll need to pay rent for an RV space, but that's generally a lot cheaper than a hotel or resort. And if you have a micro bus or van-style camper, you may be able to get a better deal due to the small size. 
Apartments - If you are willing to look and are not too picky, you may be able to find inexpensive apartments with furniture in your destination of choice. Apartments are usually less expensive than renting a house or condo, and it's far cheaper than buying a place and keeping it up year round.
Less Expensive Locations - There are locations that are less expensive than others. Here is a partial list of what are generally considered the lowest-cost locations for overwintering.
* Las Vegas - Yes, you can go West as well as South! Las Vegas is actually considered an affordable destination for snowbirds. Sources say you can find rooms "off the strip" for less than $200 a night. You can also get package deals. Las Vegas would probably be best for snowbirds who are spending short amounts of time away from home in the winter.
* Los Cabos, Mexico - Especially in December, Los Cabos boasts discounts resulting in as little as $112-a-night rates on some hotels. And daytime temperatures are around 80 degrees.
* Out-of-the-way locations - If you're willing to do a little research, you might be surprised at the small, "mom and pop" type destinations that are available in warmer climates.