[AES328]

Originally Posted by davephan

What's wrong with the snowbirds coming down from the frozen tundra to spend money in Florida, and give the economy a boost?

I don't mind them, except when they're on the roads

[8to32characters]

Originally Posted by tinytrump

I found out they go in early traffic because of golf... always wondered why retires get out on early morning traffic-- the last thing I plan to do when I retiree.... also snow birds come here to die. the funeral directors having the welcoming party now.

FWIW, most people who retire to Florida from northern states don't die in Florida, unless they die suddenly and unexpectedly.

IME, it seems like once most retirees in Florida reach the age at which they can no longer live on their own volition due to health-related reasons, they tend to move back up North to live with their children, grandchildren, or other relatives who can provide care for them. Unless their children/grandchildren followed in the footsteps of their parents/grandparents and moved down to Florida as well, chances are real good those retirees are moving back up North when they become too frail or sickly to care for themselves.

I will have you know that it's pretty difficult, not to mention expensive, to care for an elderly person from afar. You can't provide assistance with activities of daily living--instrumental or not--or take them to physician appointments. If your elderly parent/relative requires a hired home-health aide or needs to be place assisted living or nursing home care, it's expensive and time-consuming traveling down from Illinois or New Jersey to interview home-health companies or private aides or tour skilled nursing facilities, especially if you're still working, caring for a family yourself, and/or on a fixed income.

Also, because you're not a local in said community, since you live in New York or Ohio, you don't have very many personal recommendations from locals themselves about which physicians, hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home-health companies, and the like are reputable and provide high quality care. And as someone who has lived in many different places in the US, I can assure you that the most reliable, reputable, high-quality healthcare providers I've had over the years have those that have come with excellent recommendations from long-time locals. But that's another thing, too--Florida is a very transient state, so most communities, especially the retirement communities, don't have many long-time locals, meaning just about everyone else is going to be in the same predicament as you.

So retirees eventually move back up North.

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

Is that humor?

My downstairs neighbor is 85 and does pool aerobics every single day at 8 AM.

How 'bout you?

My Publix has a 96 year old bagger who rides his bike to work and was hired at age 85.

Ya might wanna rethink that "lay around in bed all day" plan.

I'd like to also add that most retirees in Florida are quite active and *seem* to live longer than their counterparts who perpetually remain in the snowy, bitterly cold northern states--I noticed this with very own grandparents compared to their siblings and other older relatives who stayed behind in Rhode Island. I think the very nature of Florida--sunshine and warm weather year-round, lots of recreational opportunities, etc.--seem to attract a more healthy, active-type of retiree to begin with, one that's probably going to live into his her or upper 80's or early 90's anyway. Overall, the weather and culture of northern states is more conducive to inactivity among seniors, IMO.

[OpinionInOcala]

Originally Posted by AES328

I don't mind them, except when they're on the roads

Indeed, driving with the average lowbrow residents on the road in Florida is already one step short of having a death wish. The snowbird congestion only amplifies the problem.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by tinytrump

I found out they go in early traffic because of golf... always wondered why retires get out on early morning traffic-- the last thing I plan to do when I retiree.... also snow birds come here to die. the funeral directors having the welcoming party now.

I don't know that they necessarily come to Florida to die, it may happen, but if so I imagine they want their funerals to be held in their home locations.

They also get out early in this neck of the woods to go to breakfast- you'll see the procession of out of state license plates traveling at a leisurely rate north on US 41.

[Travelassie]

Originally Posted by runswithscissors

IRONY: I just met my new neighbors downstairs from Chicago moving in this week. Vero Beach.

They bought the condo SIGHT UNSEEN online.

Wow, anything's better than where they are, eh?

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by Restrain

Early snows, snow in Chicago, record cold throughout the Midwest.

Looks like the snowbirds will be flocking south early this year.

you can tell they're already here in the TB/Bradenton area......hassles include more traffic, longer lines at stores, restaurants,....benefits include better economy for our folks who need jobs. Got to take the bad with the good......

[Irishiis49]

It's all good for us...my husband sells rv's...we love snowbirds!!!

[smarino]

They usually come to Daytona about this time anyway for Bike Week, which actually feels more like Bike Month. I know, you wouldn't think they would be snow boids, but the local paper (and a terrible one it is too) had an article last year that said that the average age of the Bike Week visitors was 57! Snow boids, Bike Week folks, they all flock together about the same time over here. Vrooom.

[SeaLark7]

This year I've decided to keep a list of the 50 states in my car, and check off each one as I see a license plate from that state. A reporter in the local paper did that last year, and had all but three states by the end of snowbird season. Last season, I even saw a car from Hawaii...

[AES328]

Originally Posted by SeaLark7

This year I've decided to keep a list of the 50 states in my car, and check off each one as I see a license plate from that state. A reporter in the local paper did that last year, and had all but three states by the end of snowbird season. Last season, I even saw a car from Hawaii...

I've already seen a Hawaii and an Alaska this year.