RGV weather

We're in Port Isabel on the water and it went down to the low 30's last night. Too bad we can't go any further south. The electric went out last night, so I ran an extension to one of the house boxes meant for the boats behind us. That got us through until morning. Here on the water we always get a breeze which is great in the summer, but in winter it makes things worse when the temps get this low. Add in the humidity and its a damp cold that aggravates my arthritis. We're heading to El Paso for a few months and then Florida to see friends. Next year we are considering AZ.

We had a couple of decent days over the weekend, but the next five days are predicted to be be on the wet and cool side. And this was the year I was going to join the shuffleboard league! Be glad when January is over.

Had a $4 breakfast in the morning, did some shopping, went to the movie "Darkest hour" (recommended) for $5 (even got a free small popcorn,) then had a nice bowl of TX wild gulf shrimp gumbo with rice (the best) for $6, all with some of the nicest people in the US that love seeing Winter Texans during their lean tourist months (I'm at a destination area.)

There's more to being a snowbird then just having good weather, but I do admit it is a huge part of it. To answer your question, yes it's starting to look like one of those winters. What I always find funny is how everyone will always say that this weather is so uncommon. Well if you're here for 6-12 months I guess you forget those 2-6 (or more) weeks of winter. If you are a 3 month or less snowbird don't get fooled into thinking next winter will be any better. You got a 50/50 chance it won't be.

My friends and I agree on the degrees per dollar comments. Cheap cost of living with several days of good weather per Winter. This is actually closer to normal than last year.

TomG2 wrote:
My friends and I agree on the degrees per dollar comments. Cheap cost of living with several days of good weather per Winter. This is actually closer to normal than last year.

Very much in agreement. I enjoy my location, and the people I am surrounded with. That's the counter balance to the poor weather we get at times.

I'm just getting to that point in life where you start thinking how many more years you have to snowbird, and how do you want to spend those years. Like I said prior, weather isn't the only thing, but it is a huge part of the overall picture.

Like I said to good friends and old neighbors wintering down in Mexico now. Just feels like I'm coming to an end of a chapter, and will be moving forward into the next one. Just like they did.

John&Joey wrote:
Like I said to good friends and old neighbors wintering down in Mexico now.

Joke, joke, joke:

Don't look now, but Mexico is coming to us.

Joke, Joke, Joke.

Some say that the RGV is "Really Northern Mexico".

X2 (X2 on the joke part also, if you think about it 1/5 of Mexico is north of us.)

A couple of winters ago west of Harlingen I was in a friends truck when it got T boned by a driver that ended up being hauled away by the INS. As I was waiting in the tow truck for my friend to finish up paperwork with the state patrol the driver said something to me in Spanish. I told him I wasn't bilingual.

He then asked me who was my ????? (some Spanish word.) I told him I didn't understand what he meant. He then said "you know, the local person here who irons out the wrinkles for you."

At that moment I realized that not being bilingual in this part of the United States of America made me less independent when problems occur. The US does not have a national language, something that you never think about when you're north of here.

Really Northern Mexico

I go along with that statement..

as last winter was my first time here in Texas "RGV".. a bit of a shock for us "Northerners"
Border Patrol
elevated police observation platforms

and the MASS number of people that does not know a single word of English. but most seem friendly.

as for the weather.. it is what it is.
least winter RGV was above average by a bunch..

that being said.. unlike the South Carolina "Snowbird special" we froze 2 winters ago... and we were on the beach.
and paid a lot more money.

Perfect weather has a big price. The RGV is a lot warmer than the Midwest at a price we can afford. I have been in places with better Winter weather. They cost as much per week as I spend in the RGV for a month. We get as many degrees per dollar as anywhere else.

Visitors to this area should visit the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg and the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park to understand the heritage, politics, and population of the RGV. More to learn than a few paragraphs in our high school history books.

TomG2 wrote:
Perfect weather has a big price. The RGV is a lot warmer than the Midwest at a price we can afford. I have been in places with better Winter weather. They cost as much per week as I spend in the RGV for a month. We get as many degrees per dollar as anywhere else.

Visitors to this area should visit the Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg and the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park to understand the heritage, politics, and population of the RGV. More to learn than a few paragraphs in our high school history books.

thanks, the museum and the battlefield sounds great...

I agree for the money..RGV is a good value..

if cold here.. 45.. is much better then -5 at home...with ton's of snow.
I received frost bite years ago... that is a feeling you do not want.. the reminders are very painful..