[TANaples]

I don't have a negative view of snowbirds. I envy them. At least they get to go back HOME sometime.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by TANaples

I don't have a negative view of snowbirds. I envy them. At least they get to go back HOME sometime.

Hey TAN, nice to see you. Thanks for stopping by!!

See now, the snowbirds will be happy to have you as a friend...that's a great plus to being a snowbird...meeting someone who's favorably disposed! I remember that you mentioned elsewhere that at your school, you get involved in supporting some snowbird activities there! Good for you...one pro of being a snowbird would be meeting nice people down there as they go back and forth!

I know you've got your bags packed and ready to head for Long Island!!! Please continue your work with snowbirds in the meantime!

[jeanniepep]

While the thread is indeed about BEING a snowbird, I appreciate the comments about how they are treated by the locals. If I travel someplace and get treated negatively, it definitely affects my experience! I don't know what other senior's experiences have been, but my grandparents (and most of their friends) pretty much stuck to a few favorite restaurants and stores where everyone treated them very nicely. That's an understatement actually, my grandparents gravitated only to restaurants where the waitstaff KISSED THEIR BUTTS! They loved being treated like a special favorite customer, and waiters/waitresses who figured that out quickly got rich off their over-the-top tips. Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that my particular snowbirds never went anywhere that tourist-haters might be rude to them, so it didn't affect their experience.

I have noticed a lot of complaining about Florida tourists for many years, both in online forums and A LOT in the Key West local newspaper (I like to read it online). It always annoys me because here in Michigan we would just kill to have some out-of-staters come hang around and spend their money here, I don't care how oblivious or rude they are to the locals! They can park in my driveway and egg my house every day if they'll help bring our economy back. But I digress...

That said, I've visited Florida dozens of times in many different cities (St Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Key West, Key Largo, Hollywood) and have never once been treated rudely because I was a tourist. I get nervous every time because I read online about how much Floridians supposedly "hate" tourists, but I've consistently had one absolutely delightful experience after another. Everyone is always super nice, extremely helpful, and very welcoming. I LOVE FLORIDA (including the residents) and that's why I keep going back!

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by jeanniepep

I get nervous every time because I read online about how much Floridians supposedly "hate" tourists, but I've consistently had one absolutely delightful experience after another. Everyone is always super nice, extremely helpful, and very welcoming. I LOVE FLORIDA (including the residents) and that's why I keep going back!

Good. You should be having delightful experiences. We all should be.

Sometimes I think this whole snowbird phenomenon is overblown and self-perpetuating. I really cringe when I see the issue come up. I'd hate to see a new snowbird go down to Florida all worked up and take it out on someone. I think that is what happens, sometimes.

Maybe people would be nicer if they didn't have it in their heads that they were hated before they even got out of the gate.

A woman in Estero once said, "I think everyone around here hates snowbirds." She was really sweet and my heart just broke. I told her I had no idea what she was talking about. Sugar-coated the whole thing and made her smile.

And I find the whole premise that waitstaff are rude to their customers to be ridiculous. Sure it can happen, but those people will quit or starve to death. They make a little more than $2 an hour, and that often includes cleaning toilets.

I don't care how much a waiter may hate you, to your face he's going to be nice.

I was a bit saddened to see this thoughtful thread may have been a thinly-velied attempt to lecture about how the state of Florida should treat snowbirds. I swear, people in Florida are not stupid. On the other hand understand that they may be working for minimum wage and are trying their very best with a majority of customers that may be elderly.

In some areas of Florida, the senior population is enormous and because of those odds service people may sometimes be dealing with people that can be cantankerous, confused or hostile. I often think those seniors are not even aware of it.

What we all should be doing, everyone of us, no matter our age, location or station in life is be the best person that we can be and treat each other with kindness. Please and thank you.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by jeanniepep

While the thread is indeed about BEING a snowbird, I appreciate the comments about how they are treated by the locals. If I travel someplace and get treated negatively, it definitely affects my experience! I don't know what other senior's experiences have been, but my grandparents (and most of their friends) pretty much stuck to a few favorite restaurants and stores where everyone treated them very nicely. That's an understatement actually, my grandparents gravitated only to restaurants where the waitstaff KISSED THEIR BUTTS! They loved being treated like a special favorite customer, and waiters/waitresses who figured that out quickly got rich off their over-the-top tips. Anyway, I guess what I'm saying is that my particular snowbirds never went anywhere that tourist-haters might be rude to them, so it didn't affect their experience.

I have noticed a lot of complaining about Florida tourists for many years, both in online forums and A LOT in the Key West local newspaper (I like to read it online). It always annoys me because here in Michigan we would just kill to have some out-of-staters come hang around and spend their money here, I don't care how oblivious or rude they are to the locals! They can park in my driveway and egg my house every day if they'll help bring our economy back. But I digress...

That said, I've visited Florida dozens of times in many different cities (St Pete, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Key West, Key Largo, Hollywood) and have never once been treated rudely because I was a tourist. I get nervous every time because I read online about how much Floridians supposedly "hate" tourists, but I've consistently had one absolutely delightful experience after another. Everyone is always super nice, extremely helpful, and very welcoming. I LOVE FLORIDA (including the residents) and that's why I keep going back!

It's great to hear that you and your grandparents have had wonderful experiences in Florida. I'm also glad that you did not experience the much discussed rudeness of South Florida or Florida in general.

I sincerely believe that Florida, like every other state, has tons of pluses and tons of minuses. For some, it'll always be a great place to call home all year, for others it's great to visit or to snowbird only. Different strokes for different folks.

Because of its desirability, Florida has gotten battered by a bunch of economic and lifestyle issues that have diminished the luster of Florida to many natives who now seek greener pastures elsewhere. For this reason and others, I anticipate that snowbirds will always be welcome officially by the state of Florida and by many of its residents. Snowbirds are neither angels nor devils - they're just like us all, human beings with positive and not so postive traits sometimes.

Once there contimues to be northern winters and lovely winter weather in Florida, I daresay the traffic will continue unabated.

It is however interesting to read on why some tire of being a snowbird, how they manage two homes, the issues they confront in that capacity...and the final decisions they make...continue being a snowbird and why, become a Florida resident only and why, or cease being a snowbird and remain a northerner or midwesterner and why.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by hiknapster

I was a bit saddened to see this thoughtful thread may have been a thinly-velied attempt to lecture about how the state of Florida should treat snowbirds.

Sorry for you conclusion. Reread the entire thread from its inception and if you still feel that way, there's nothing I can or will do to convince you otherwise. Hopefully there are others who appreciate the thread and find value in the discussion.

Once again thanks for visiting the thread.

[Moderate Guy]

For those who actually still snowbird or used to in the past, did renting your Florida home for a few months vs. owning a second home, or vice versa, make a significant difference either way with your experience as a snowbird?

True, if one runs the numbers, it sometimes makes more economic sense to rent a good room or suite at a good hotel and come out ahead in terms of dollars and cents...but isn't there a non-financial value in having a second home well stocked with your furnishings, clothing, etc., that you could just hop on a plane and head to? Or were the issues of securing, watching over, maintaining both the main and second homes while absent too significant and adversarial to the whole situation?

Would owning a condo instead of a house in Florida make it easier to do the snowbird lifestyle since you'd just pretty much lock the door and just leave or are there absentee issues even when the second home is a condo?

Thanks for any further thoughts on the matter.

[DaniellaG]

Moderate Guy I would think a lot depends on finances. I do feel regardless if one spends more then a month here they would want at least a 1 bedroom apt or condo. A hotel suite after awhile may take a toll from being so confined. This would be especially true for a couple. An issue I thought of and again if money is not an issue it is different but where I rent some just own and come for 3 months. The HOA fees here are unreal expensive and so basically you are throwing money out each month for having a club house,restaurant,upkeep that you don't even use or see for most of the year. It does make it nicer to have the comforts though of ones own personal items and owned space.
On the note of snowbirds and negative view. Well I was one last year but made the full move year round. I guess what I felt and I am younger but it is not so much older people but the mix of personalities,different ages which comes with different views,and coming from so many different places that it clashes. Also for the people year round it takes longer for them to get to work due to more traffic,waits in restaurants,etc. I agree with the other poster that through life stresses and mixes of different types of people that people should treat others in the way they like to. If you are in a rush don't stop for an errand and then start screaming you have to wait. The world would be such a better place if people would not take their frustrations out on others.

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by DaniellaG

Moderate Guy I would think a lot depends on finances. I do feel regardless if one spends more then a month here they would want at least a 1 bedroom apt or condo. A hotel suite after awhile may take a toll from being so confined. This would be especially true for a couple. An issue I thought of and again if money is not an issue it is different but where I rent some just own and come for 3 months. The HOA fees here are unreal expensive and so basically you are throwing money out each month for having a club house,restaurant,upkeep that you don't even use or see for most of the year. It does make it nicer to have the comforts though of ones own personal items and owned space.
On the note of snowbirds and negative view. Well I was one last year but made the full move year round. I guess what I felt and I am younger but it is not so much older people but the mix of personalities,different ages which comes with different views,and coming from so many different places that it clashes. Also for the people year round it takes longer for them to get to work due to more traffic,waits in restaurants,etc. I agree with the other poster that through life stresses and mixes of different types of people that people should treat others in the way they like to. If you are in a rush don't stop for an errand and then start screaming you have to wait. The world would be such a better place if people would not take their frustrations out on others.

Thanks Daniella for offering your perspective..yeah, if money is the determining factor, it seems that it would be better to rent for the few months, but as you pointed out, a hotel room, even a suite, could be confining for such a duration. So I guess one could rent a vacation condo, as a possibility.

Thanks again for your take.

[Wendy Cody]

Honestly, if it were so troublesome, I seriously doubt there would be droves of snowbirds...it is truly wonderful to have the best of both worlds, and more freedom than most retirees can even imagine.