50+ Lifestyles

Snowbirds

By Mary Schricker Gemberling

We have our favorite spots, but have yet to find the ideal retirement location. But as they say, the journey is half the fun!

A Snowbird is simply defined as a seasonal resident of a warmer climate.

The snowbird lifestyle has existed in Europe and North America for many centuries. Prosperous Europeans during the Victorian Age would escape the cold winters of their Northern homes by traveling to a milder Mediterranean climate in Italy or Southern France. These Europeans lived a leisurely life of good health and prosperity. For many years, influential Americans and Canadians have also found respite from the cold in the warmer climates of the United States. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison both  maintained winter homes in Fort Myers, Florida. Some of their most influential ideas were conceived while staying at their winter homes.

Today the snowbird lifestyle is not just for the rich and famous. Accommodations in every price bracket allow for a large portion of the population to live the snowbird dream. Whether in a manufactured home or high rise condo, thousands of current snowbirds enjoy the warm and mild winter climates of the southern United States, with the most popular destinations being Florida, Arizona, Texas, and Southern California.

I remember in the early 1990s when my mom and dad retired, and headed to Florida for a few weeks that first winter. Each year they stayed longer and longer, until they finally purchased a condo, spending six months each year in Fort Myers, Florida. The image of warmth and palm trees often lured the boys and me down for a visit during our school breaks.

Now that we are retired, Gary and I also look forward to heading to a warmer climate during the winter months. We usually endure about two weeks of cold and sometimes snowy weather in January and return in March to milder temps and the promise of spring. During the past few years we have visited both Arizona and Florida, but have found out that the flat terrain of Florida is easier for bicycling. In addition to walking the beaches, we enjoy the locally grown fruits and vegetables plus the abundance of fresh seafood in Florida. We have explored Florida from Key West to the  Panhandle, up and down both coasts and inland to the charming villages and riverfront cottages. We have our favorite spots, but have yet to find the ideal retirement location. But as they say, the journey is half the fun!

With temperatures dipping in the single digits tonight, it is time once again to head south. With the car loaded, and the bicycles mounted on the rear, we are ready and anxious to embark on yet another snowbird adventure!

“Travel not for the destination, but for the joy of the journey”
……Sir Joseph Fresco

Mary, a former educator and Seniors Real Estate Specialist, is the author of three books, The West End Kid, Hotel Blackhawk; a Century of Elegance, and Labor of Love; My Personal Journey through the World of Caregiving ( available at www.amazon.com )