Winter Texan numbers dropping in the Valley

quartzster wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
I'm not sure costs have gone up much. Fuel hasn't changed in 8 years, maintenance probably up a bit along with food etc. Are campgrounds up much??

In our park, the pad fees are up, and the City just did a reassessment so that my taxes for example, went from $500 to $800 with no improvements. Gas has been up and down over the past few years....mostly up in my experience.

I don't know about campgrounds.

I would be very interested in seeing the US vs Canada snowbird numbers. US health care costs have gone up way past US yearly inflation. Hard for a US citizen to retire prior to 65 when health care is "mostly" covered. This is not the case for our neighbors to the north.

A US couple can easily pay $1,200us per month for health care. It's too much of a risk to go without.

John & Angela wrote:
I'm not sure costs have gone up much. Fuel hasn't changed in 8 years, maintenance probably up a bit along with food etc. Are campgrounds up much??

In our park, the pad fees are up, and the City just did a reassessment so that my taxes for example, went from $500 to $800 with no improvements. Gas has been up and down over the past few years....mostly up in my experience.

I don't know about campgrounds.

I'm not sure costs have gone up much. Fuel hasn't changed in 8 years, maintenance probably up a bit along with food etc. Are campgrounds up much??

bob_nestor wrote:

quartzster wrote:

bob_nestor wrote:

quartzster wrote:
It's not off topic...it is simply one of the reasons for the drop in Winter Texans in the Valley. Some folks are getting older, and as a result the cost of health care for Canadians is prohibitive.

There are other reasons as well, this is simply one of them.

I'm scratching my head on this one! Doesn't everyone in Canada basically age at the same rate? If so, aren't there people who used to be younger and not in the Winter Texan crowd now older and thus potentially new Winter Texans? Aging would explain why those individuals who used to winter in Texas no longer do so, but I don't think it explains a statistical drop in the number of Winter Texans coming from Canada (or anyplace up north).

And I'm scratching my head at your response. Clear as mud. The point I am trying to make is that the older one gets in Canada means more $$ for travel Insurance to go south. That price seems to be increasing all the time. Therefore many are not prepared to pay that price. Seems we really get hit around the age of 70, and especially so if there are pre-existing medical conditions.

I don't think there is a one for one exchange on younger Canadians taking the place of older Canadians who no longer go. There are all sorts of factors as to why not...increased pad fees, cost of gas, etc. etc.

I don't know what is so hard to understand about the cost of Health Insurance being a factor in less people going to the RGV.

I keyed on your phrase "some folks are getting older". That must mean not everyone is getting older but only the ones who are aging are affecting the winter migration. Now had you said "everyone is getting older" I wouldn't have had a problem with your logic.

Hmmm...not really into nitpicking...think that my intent should have been clear enough!

GrampaKoot wrote:
Quartzter:
I know Quarzsite snowbirds are mostly boondockers. Nevertheless if the drop in snowbird numbers is mostly related to cost increases would you agree that there should be an increase in snowbirds in Quartzsite and have noticed any trends?

Sorry GrampaKoot...I have no idea. I think that for those that find it too expensive for Medical Insurance will simply stay in Canada although the weather is certainly not comparable in the Winter.

However...seems to me that many of the younger Canadians go to Arizona rather than the RGV. I know many who have bought houses during the housing bubble, and are willing to spend more money in the hopes that property values will return to former levels.

I just don't know about boondockers and costs in Quartzite vs costs in the RGV.

This whole topic has so many variables as to why the numbers are dropping.

quartzster wrote:

bob_nestor wrote:

quartzster wrote:
It's not off topic...it is simply one of the reasons for the drop in Winter Texans in the Valley. Some folks are getting older, and as a result the cost of health care for Canadians is prohibitive.

There are other reasons as well, this is simply one of them.

I'm scratching my head on this one! Doesn't everyone in Canada basically age at the same rate? If so, aren't there people who used to be younger and not in the Winter Texan crowd now older and thus potentially new Winter Texans? Aging would explain why those individuals who used to winter in Texas no longer do so, but I don't think it explains a statistical drop in the number of Winter Texans coming from Canada (or anyplace up north).

And I'm scratching my head at your response. Clear as mud. The point I am trying to make is that the older one gets in Canada means more $$ for travel Insurance to go south. That price seems to be increasing all the time. Therefore many are not prepared to pay that price. Seems we really get hit around the age of 70, and especially so if there are pre-existing medical conditions.

I don't think there is a one for one exchange on younger Canadians taking the place of older Canadians who no longer go. There are all sorts of factors as to why not...increased pad fees, cost of gas, etc. etc.

I don't know what is so hard to understand about the cost of Health Insurance being a factor in less people going to the RGV.

I keyed on your phrase "some folks are getting older". That must mean not everyone is getting older but only the ones who are aging are affecting the winter migration. Now had you said "everyone is getting older" I wouldn't have had a problem with your logic.

Quartzter:
I know Quarzsite snowbirds are mostly boondockers. Nevertheless if the drop in snowbird numbers is mostly related to cost increases would you agree that there should be an increase in snowbirds in Quartzsite and have noticed any trends?

quartzster wrote:
It's not off topic...it is simply one of the reasons for the drop in Winter Texans in the Valley. Some folks are getting older, and as a result the cost of health care for Canadians is prohibitive.

There are other reasons as well, this is simply one of them.

Yes, as long as it don't get political and it usually does.

bob_nestor wrote:

quartzster wrote:
It's not off topic...it is simply one of the reasons for the drop in Winter Texans in the Valley. Some folks are getting older, and as a result the cost of health care for Canadians is prohibitive.

There are other reasons as well, this is simply one of them.

I'm scratching my head on this one! Doesn't everyone in Canada basically age at the same rate? If so, aren't there people who used to be younger and not in the Winter Texan crowd now older and thus potentially new Winter Texans? Aging would explain why those individuals who used to winter in Texas no longer do so, but I don't think it explains a statistical drop in the number of Winter Texans coming from Canada (or anyplace up north).

And I'm scratching my head at your response. Clear as mud. The point I am trying to make is that the older one gets in Canada means more $$ for travel Insurance to go south. That price seems to be increasing all the time. Therefore many are not prepared to pay that price. Seems we really get hit around the age of 70, and especially so if there are pre-existing medical conditions.

I don't think there is a one for one exchange on younger Canadians taking the place of older Canadians who no longer go. There are all sorts of factors as to why not...increased pad fees, cost of gas, etc. etc.

I don't know what is so hard to understand about the cost of Health Insurance being a factor in less people going to the RGV.

bob_nestor wrote:

quartzster wrote:
It's not off topic...it is simply one of the reasons for the drop in Winter Texans in the Valley. Some folks are getting older, and as a result the cost of health care for Canadians is prohibitive.

There are other reasons as well, this is simply one of them.

I'm scratching my head on this one! Doesn't everyone in Canada basically age at the same rate? If so, aren't there people who used to be younger and not in the Winter Texan crowd now older and thus potentially new Winter Texans? Aging would explain why those individuals who used to winter in Texas no longer do so, but I don't think it explains a statistical drop in the number of Winter Texans coming from Canada (or anyplace up north).

I think it has to do with the boomer bubble moving through the system. Some feel the next bubble is 9 to 11 years before they start retiring. Not an expert, just a little from what I read.