Everyone going south early this year?

Already here. Came down to Sarasota two years ago and never returned. Bought a park model and store the 5th. At 53 I decided on a "lifestyle change". I loved growing up in PA and MD, the four seasons and all they had to offer. However, I traded working for the man for a part-time simple job and time of my own. I mostly miss the feeling of fall and hunting season. However releasing tarpon, snook, redfish and trout all year long ain't bad. Hot humid weather may not be for everyone, but I enjoy boating and fishing the Gulf with 92 deg. F water temperatures. Be safe on your travels and look forward to seeing new found snowbird friends.

Not until mid October.
Then we will stay in paradise, (Key largo)until April

I grew up in the cold, snowy winters of Boston and never want to experience that again

Jack L

B.O. Plenty wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
In February of 1970, while on vacation, I discovered that in 20 hours driving time I could get rid of Winter. I immediately knew what I wanted to do when I retired, and I am.

AMEN...I feel the same way! I've slipped on my last patch of ice, worn my last heavy coat and shoveled my last bit of snow.

B.O.

X 3

TomG2 wrote:
In February of 1970, while on vacation, I discovered that in 20 hours driving time I could get rid of Winter. I immediately knew what I wanted to do when I retired, and I am.

AMEN...I feel the same way! I've slipped on my last patch of ice, worn my last heavy coat and shoveled my last bit of snow.

B.O.

We stay at our Adirondack cottage from Thanksgiving to New Years to spend the holidays with our kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, heading south the first week of January. We'd love to go earlier, but we haven't figured out how to haul the whole clan along with us yet.

Every time I see someone mention "high prices" in Florida, I have to wonder where they're going. We usually spend Jan-April in Florida, and this coming winter is pretty typical for us, with our highest campsite cost at $30/night. We move around to various state and federal parks, usually with pretty spacious sites, and some with full hookups. We also spend a month at an Escapees RV Club owned park for about $14/night with full hookups. We don't find grocery store prices to be any different from anywhere else, and the family style diners we prefer for eating out are also quite reasonable. Driving doesn't seem to be all that hectic if you stay away from the "vacation destination" areas like Orlando and the beach cities. Florida doesn't have to be expensive if you don't insist on an ocean view site and all sorts of amenities. Even then, at one of the Florida State Parks where we'll be staying, we will have an ocean view from our site and coach with just a short walk to the water for just $22/night. We'll also have another ocean view site at a state park in South Carolina when we start drifting north in the spring, also at a reasonable rate. That works for us, but I'm sure it's not for everyone.

Heads Up friends. Seems like there is a low grade hurricane heading to the RGV and south Texas in the next couple of days. Please keep current with the weather! Much rain expected.

PghBob wrote:
Love the Holidays in the cool/cold north. Comin' south in Feb.

We have gone to FL in November-April for a couple of years now. As a lifelong Michigan girl, I just can't wrap my head around Christmas without snow....

Funny thing in the Yuma, AZ. area. Talking to a friend of ours that stays year round the other day, she mentioned that she had noticed a few park models being opened up in her park and several RV's going on sites. Then at few bingos out of park that she attends she saw some folks she knows are snowbirds in attendance. Asked them if they were just real early or what? Their answer was "hey it has been hotter than hell and smoky as anything up in the Pac North West, so we packed up and headed on down. Lost the lousy smoke and we can handle the heat". Made sense to us. We are in Vegas for a month in some heat, then we will be in Yuma the middle of Sept. for the winter.

In February of 1970, while on vacation, I discovered that in 20 hours driving time I could get rid of Winter. I immediately knew what I wanted to do when I retired, and I am.

John&Joey wrote:
Agree, when you live in your RV for any length of time camping becomes a hardship. FHU, cable TV, internet, and a concrete patio is needed. All the same things you would want if you stayed at home for that same length of time.

IMO, you got nesters and travelers. Snowbirds are one form of travelers. It's not for nesters just like any traveling for more then a month would be.

Did you not notice that I said we spend 6 months on the road - 2 week max stays - this after 9 years of fulltiming. Don't need a concrete patio, but at least water/electricity. I'm retired, I want a comfortable place to rest at night after exploring during the day. Like our 200 mile jaunt on Monday to view the TOTALITY ECLIPSE in Albany, Oregon. We set up in a park that we like in Sutherlin, got up early and drove north - set out in a lovely park in Albany and enjoyed the show. Came back and set out pictures to our friends and family. Our little Subaru gets us to all sorts of places during the day, and back to comfort for the evening.

Barb