Does a snowbird travel around the 'warm' or

Fifteen years ago we decided to go to the warmest place in the continental USA. That would be Yuma AZ. We never had an urge to go anywhere else.

FWIW, there was a time I was a little confused about having a title also. We would travel for 5-6 months during the winter months, so that SHOULD make us snowbirds. Yet, we had so much more in common with FT'ers then Snowbirds. We seemed to get along great with every FT'er we met. We did get along with most of the snowbirds we met under the age of 70. Those that were stuck in one spot for years on end not so much. This led me to a conclusion.

It's based on activities vs experiences. Hardcore Snowbirds are very much into activities, FT'ers are into experiences. Sitting in one spot all winter par taking in activities with long term good friends and neighbors is a snowbird thing. Traveling around meeting new people, seeing new places, and enjoying new local events is what travelers do. These are the things that FT'ers are attracted to. That's why they sold every thing and hit the road.

For me, I came to the conclusion we were PT'ers. Been happy ever since, and I roll my eyes at the one size fit all snowbird.

I always felt the term snowbirds applied to people who came from the north at the beginning of the winter and left at the end of winter. The term was applied by the "locals" who put up with the warmer summers to have the nicer winters. They felt a little bit invaded by these travelers.

As to full-timer's vs snowbirds in over 30 years I haven't met a full timer who wintered in the North regardless of their equipment.

I haven't met a camper that I didn't like regardless of my stay or location. On the other hand there are a few campgrounds I won't go back to.

We started out moving around during the winter. Arizona, Florida, Texas - just south of I-10 for the coldest months. We learned quickly that we didn't like Florida and we didn't like the RioGrande Valley. So that left Arizona or Southern California. We bounced around those two areas for a few years before settling on Mesa, AZ for longer stays and after a number of years we decided to buy a park model in our favorite park. So now we travel in the RV in the summer and spend the winter enjoying all the greater Phoenix area has to offer.

Dave was a grad student at ASU in the 70s, so I would mutter about snow birds getting in my way during my drive each morning to work. We now don't head for breakfast until after 8:30 am so that those working (and paying taxes) can get to their jobs on time. :B.

OP....have a great trip! You may find that you are planning on going to to many locations and I suggest make sure you have time to enjoy where you are and keep a casual pace that won't tire you out!

I guess by definition, we aren't snowbirds as we only spend about 6 weeks of the winter in Florida! But then again...I've never seen the rulebook for Snowbirds!

Here in Michigan, we get "Sunbirds" during the really hot months down south - folks escaping the heat. They tend to head back south the moment they can't wear shorts. The Michigan Snowbirds fly south either before they have to shovel snow (me); or right after the Holidays. One year we left the day after Christmas - and the traffic jams headed south were mind-boggling - clearly half of the northern USA was headed the same direction :-(