Any such thing as a Half-Back Snowbird?

Dog Folks wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Fl economy would collapse with out Snowbirds......just ask any retail business how their profits were in 2008-2010

Don't give us that old saw again. 2008-10 was just a down time for the whole country.

Just how do you think we merchants live during the EIGHT months that snowbirds are not here?

We appreciate the snowbirds and I never complained about extra traffic, long lines, etc. BUT we won't die without them.

Any snowbird that thinks that they are that important is sadly mistaken and welcome to take the nearest interstate north.

Glad to know that....I'll leave my $$$ elsewhere.
Never liked FL anyway. Too many rude, arrogant retailers that happily take the $$ but talk about you behind your back.

Hoppypoppy wrote:

Until you have lived in an area that is invaded by snowbirds, you have no idea of the aggravation. From drivers who have nowhere to go, but decide to go anyway, during rush hour, with no knowledge of the roads, or the local laws, to new-made-trailer-park-friends who see each other in a store and decide to block aisles while they catch up, completely oblivious to people trying to get around them. Every eating establishment is now crowded, and since they have no place to be, tie up tables for hours while others wait. To be frank, a lot of them are rude and act like we are blessed to have them clogging things up. They do contribute some tax dollars but I wonder how much they help considering the resources (fire dept, whose calls jump dramatically during Snowbird season, police dept, investigating accidents, road deterioration etc) they use. I think bottom line I wish they would stay home. JMHO

Perhaps you should take the time to talk to local business owners and government officials to learn about the positive economic impact "snowbirds" have on your community.

I have spent quite a bit of time and a lot of money in Arizona in recreational activities, RVing, and more recently as a homeowner. I can assure you the monies I spend during my visits to Arizona have a lasting effect on the local economy, lasting far longer than my visits.

As a someone living in a resort community in So Cal, I know first hand the impact visitors have on my community. Many of the local businesses could not survive without the money spent by visitors and second homeowners. Our public services, such as schools, public safety, and road maintenance, are subsidized by second homeowners that barely get to use those services. Most of us in our community value and welcome visitors to our area, we also know to stay away from areas popular with visitors during the holidays.

Be grateful for people like us that come to your state and help keep your economy afloat. As visitors, we spent over $19 billion dollars last year, and the money we spent on local businesses supported another 139,000 jobs outside the travel industry.

http://www.azot.gov/system/files/931/original/Arizona%20Travel%20Impacts%2012p%20FINAL.pdf?1373417711

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Fl economy would collapse with out Snowbirds......just ask any retail business how their profits were in 2008-2010

I do not believe your assertion is correct. Only a limited regional area of Florida is affected by snowbirds. In fact some tourist areas (central Florida and north) do better in the summer.

Like it or not, I am reasonably sure much of costal Florida and especially south Florida as we know it would collapse under its own weight if all the snowbirds left... sure it wouldn’t happen overnight but it would in time, almost all the CG are inhabited by them, condos and much of the residential housing is owned and/or rented by them… even a large number of the Florida residents are really nothing more than snowbirds with Florida plates on their car… this group also pays taxes year round and others pay yearly site rental… real-estate values would drop for everyone (again)…

Snowbirds are just people paying for training to become Florida residents that’s all and they pay plenty for the added services they get…

There are many places that would shutter their doors without the additional seasonal income and just as many would have never opened theirs… employment would drop for locals that would farther stress business income… I think snowbirds need Florida as much as Florida needs the snowbirds…

The middle south corridor is mostly inhabited by groves, cows, wild hogs, armadillos and gators, and a 12 mile bear crossing with signs so they know where to cross…

Arizona??? Where’s that…

Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:
Well I drop at least $10,000 in Florida staying one month each year. Multiply that times a few hundred thousand and it has to help the economy.

I agree 1000%, but would we die without it? NO, I know better. Been there, done that.

JJBIRISH wrote:
Like it or not, I am reasonably sure much of costal Florida and especially south Florida as we know it would collapse under its own weight if all the snowbirds left... sure it wouldn’t happen overnight but it would in time, almost all the CG are inhabited by them, condos and much of the residential housing is owned and/or rented by them… even a large number of the Florida residents are really nothing more than snowbirds with Florida plates on their car… this group also pays taxes year round and others pay yearly site rental… real-estate values would drop for everyone (again)…

Snowbirds are just people paying for training to become Florida residents that’s all and they pay plenty for the added services they get…

There are many places that would shutter their doors without the additional seasonal income and just as many would have never opened theirs… employment would drop for locals that would farther stress business income… I think snowbirds need Florida as much as Florida needs the snowbirds…

The middle south corridor is mostly inhabited by groves, cows, wild hogs, armadillos and gators, and a 12 mile bear crossing with signs so they know where to cross…

Arizona??? Where’s that…

South Florida return to the way it was in the 60's. Small, quiet.

The entire shopping district would again be closed on Sundays and Wednesdays. Of course, some marginal businesses would close, but the whole area would survive.

Many, many marginal businesses close each year there. Mostly restaurants. Right now 15 new restaurants are going to open between now and December in Naples. (source-Naples daily News) How many will make it? I guess about three.

It would not "collapse under it's own weight."

Snowbirds and tourists are important to the economy, no argument there, but they are NOT vital.

Florida is a big state with a variety of cultures and economic interests. Tourism is very important, especially around Orlando and in the south, but it is not the mechanism that supports the entire state. The thing that would sink south Florida (pun intended) is rising sea levels, a series of severe hurricanes back-to-back, and/or the demise of air conditioning. Historically locations exist as long as they provide a comfortable environment for their inhabitants (full or part time). Tourism does help the economy a great deal, but there is much more to Florida than tourist attractions. I have decided to be a "Come-moan-Back". lizzie

Old-Biscuit wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Fl economy would collapse with out Snowbirds......just ask any retail business how their profits were in 2008-2010

Don't give us that old saw again. 2008-10 was just a down time for the whole country.

Just how do you think we merchants live during the EIGHT months that snowbirds are not here?

We appreciate the snowbirds and I never complained about extra traffic, long lines, etc. BUT we won't die without them.

Any snowbird that thinks that they are that important is sadly mistaken and welcome to take the nearest interstate north.

Glad to know that....I'll leave my $$$ elsewhere.
Never liked FL anyway. Too many rude, arrogant retailers that happily take the $$ but talk about you behind your back.

Really? Talk behind your back? This PUBLIC forum has lots of readers. With your attitude, you, and your money will not be missed.

Your attitude is the perfect example of the kind of person I am publicly taking about. Swelled with self importance about the money you spend.

Spent the last 14 years in the NC mountains and just bought a house here in Ocala, Fl. Got tired of ice/snow/cold. Trying to re-adapt to the heat. Native Floridian and we go back to my Great Grandfather who was an "original" Cracker (cowboy/horse trader). Next move will be to the "home".

Tell me again what this post has to do with Arizona? lizzie