I just retired 2 years ago. I was absolutley going to move to Florida and visit north during the summer months. This is what I had seen plenty of retired people do.
Turns out - now that I was ready to join the preveous generation in the south, they are moving back north. Folks that had lived there for decades are now leaving to go back to be near FAMILY.
OH, and for the notion that you do not need to worry about water lines - you had better pray that your air conditioner does not stop running!
My MIL would always leave Florida and camp around the northern states for the summer. One year her air condition stopped working while they were gone. They came home to a house interior covered in MOLD!
I have since decided to continue to snowbird for now. I do love my home, friends, and family. The weather is ok here 9 months out of the year. So I guess there is no rush for now.