Snow Birds Fleeing Florida!

rambotheshark wrote:
... It is nice that my twelve mile commute to my office is now fifteen minutes shorter since the traffic has thinned out drastically and the lost, clueless with-out-a-care-in the-world drivers are mostly off our roads...

I'm sorry, that would be me. It just kinda happens after you retire.

You also get a goofy smile that seems not to go away when you're waiting in line to eat.

Laman wrote:

Now as far as the economy of Florida collapsing without "snowbird", come on man get serious, there are many other thriving parts of the Florida economy that are not impacted at all by the tourist business.

Sorry that I sounded inhospitable. I'm a "moan-back" myself, having recently returned to Florida from NC. Laman has expressed the point I was trying to make. Snowbirds (and everyone else) don't take yourselves so seriously. Sure you are a part of the economy, but you aren't THE economy. This attitude can be very annoying to others. I am not dependent on the tourist industry but I do write outdoor recreational books, most of them about Florida. I like it when folks spend money on books. lizzie

et2 wrote:
I would think many states (including Florida) enjoy the tourist business they receive. I would guess those residents in the local areas might not like all the attention. But why stay living someplace if it bothers you that much? Some have learned to turn that into a positive and make some cash off them. There are always options.

So you're saying we should move. I already moved from Miami 30 plus years ago after it changed so much. It was a paradise when I was growing up there. Now I avoid it if I possibly can. Yes, many people make money off of snowbirds. Many don't. If your not in a tourist driven business, the effect is higher prices and longer lines. I do not dislike snowbirds, its some of the attitudes that get me.

I would think many states (including Florida) enjoy the tourist business they receive. I would guess those residents in the local areas might not like all the attention. But why stay living someplace if it bothers you that much? Some have learned to turn that into a positive and make some cash off them. There are always options.

It's interesting that many year-rounders are happy to get a break from the Snowbirds and many Snowbirds can't wait for the Spring-breakers to leave. We love our Winters here as Snowbirds but are happy to get back to the mountains for the Summer. Actually, as RVers, we are most happy to be able to just get back on the road and seeing America again. We will be equally happy come Fall to head back down to be with our friends in Florida.

Floridians tend to have a a love/hate relationshipw the snowbirds.

We do appreciate the money they spend and I do truly enjoy my neighbors that come down and stay at the campground during winter. I would not want it any other way.

But, always a but, there is something incredibly nice about being able to go to your local breakfast joint and not have to wait for a table. It is nice that my twelve mile commute to my office is now fifteen minutes shorter since the traffic has thinned out drastically and the lost, clueless with-out-a-care-in the-world drivers are mostly off our roads.

So, yeah, most of us Floridians are glad that the snowbirds are leaving, but give it six months and most of us will be more than happy to welcome you back with open arms.

I travel I-75 and I-10 quite a bit both on business and pleasure and can relate that the norhbound RV parade has been going on for several weeks. I myself will be on the road back home next week to La. for the annual Easter crawfish boil and family visit so in a way I will be a short term migrator.

The small town where I reside in Central Florida has a number of RV parks that esentially cater to the "snowbirds". Do we have quite a number during the season, we sure do. Is traffic a little more congested, yes but not bad. Are stores a little more crowded with people with different accents, yea but I have not seen any locals go without because of "snowbirds". Now do the dollars they add to the economy help especially in a rural area without a large business base, absolutely. I know several small business's, oil change place, tire store, beauty salons and a few others that count on the winter season for a "good" year.

Can they survive without the winter visitors, sure they did before all the new parks opened up, however the extra income is welcomed by everyone so come on down you are welcome here.

Now as far as the economy of Florida collapsing without "snowbird", come on man get serious, there are many other thriving parts of the Florida economy that are not impacted at all by the tourist business.

lizzie wrote:
In Florida, as in many other states with tourist destinations, the economy around those destinations is enhanced by tourist dollars. In other parts of Florida tourist visitation is negligible and has little affect on the economy. Since Snowbirds tend to congregate in the same areas they can easily get an unrealistic view of their importance. As an experiment they might try staying north one winter and see if they were missed. lizzie

Totally agree with and understand this post Lizzie but gotta say the last line hurts a bit.
Makes me feel unwelcome but I am "not" going to take your suggestion next year.
However if ALL snowbird and visitors did for one year, the results would be very noticeable. And not good

My part of the world depends fairly heavily on tourism and the small town we spend summer in depends on it for about 90% of the economy I would guess. Much higher % than Florida but if you think pulling all the tourism dollars out would be no big deal you are unaware of reality.

When the US dollar dropped to par with the Canadian dollar in 2008 it affected tourism big time up here.
Now your fishing trip cost 40 % more than last year. Folks quit coming and the local economy suffered bad.
As would your states economy if people took you up on your suggestion.
You personally may not feel it cause I doubt very much you work anywhere related to the tourism industry.
In any case, I love visiting your state and will be back.
Welcome or not. :W

After my Dad retired, they traveled in a "C" all over the country for awhile and finally traded for a park model in a trailer park well off of the beach near Cape Canaveral, and drove back and forth in a car each year. The nearest town had a small grocery store and a gas station. That's it. The CG was a mixture of full time residents and snowbirds. Most of the snowbirds were from Canada. Back in the 70's, most of the Canadians were there for an operation. They had just switched to a national heath care plan and the hospitals were so swamped that elective surgery took a back seat. So the hospitals around the Cape were pretty busy.
After my Dad passed away, I drove my Mom down in her car in the fall and flew home and reversed the process in the spring. I was still working. I alternated between I-75 and I-65 but the traffic was always bad.

I hope some of you are happier than you come across on these forums.