Snowbirders/Winter Texans - What happening?

[Parrothead_Mike]

This thread gets a little slow at this time of the year so I thought I'd check what others are up to during this "off time". I know that it's not really time off, but what keeps you busy now that you're back home (besides daily chores)? Heck, some of you may still be on the road.

We stay pretty busy around the house, but I've been trying to golf more this summer after finally playing more golf while in snowbirding in Florida during the winter.

We also traded our '01 Cardinal for a '15 Cedar Creek Silverback while down in Florida, and now back home, I've been making it more livable (new bed, installing towel bars (can you believe that after spending a lot on a new RV that they'd include towel bars for the bathroom?), installed a paper towel dispenser, and organized the garage storage areas.

We're heading out in our camper this weekend and have several trips planned over the summer and fall. We have some regular camping type trips, but also have at least 3 music festivals lined up. Festivals of all kinds can be a lot of fun and RVing while attending is especially fun and comfortable!

Just like me, I'd guess that to many of you our lives seem pretty "normal" while living at home as compared to staying in an RV park where you have scheduled activities, organized events, and just enjoying your neighbors in the park. Being away during the winter adds a different element into our lives that isn't the usual back at home. The variety adds spice to our lives.

[2oldman]

..oops I'm not a Texan.

[skeetshooter]

Stayed at home for a couple of months and now back on the road. Currently in Bowling Green Ky, heading to Louisville area tomorrow. We will stop and visit friends and family in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan for the rest of the summer. Heading back to the RVG in Decemer.
SkeetShooter

[LynnandCarol]

TomG2 wrote:
I am back in the RGV after May visits to Illinois and Minnesota. Like LynnandCarol mentioned, I want to experience some Summer weather in the deep south. Just got here a few days ago, so my feelings may change, but so far it is okay. Highs in the nineties are somewhat offset by 20 mph breeze. I have air conditioner as do all the places that I visit. I don't have many outdoor chores, but have already learned to schedule them early or late in the day. There are dances, festivals, and a few people from the winter to hang out with. I am having fun.

Yes, it is quite different from the fall/winter months. we also schedule our outside work early in the morning, and usually go out and about in the afternoon heat time (AC RV to AC truck to AC store or AC eatery). By late afternoon, we can sit on patio with a fan and south bay breeze for cocktails. The ferry line to Port-A is longer so one must go early in the morning. The beaches are great and the fishing is outstanding!! There are many festivals here. This weekend is the Texas Game Wardens Fishing tournament and music festival all weekend. We have had allot of rain, but it was needed! We are having a wonderful time.

[JohnDoe]

I turn off all heat, blow out all water lines then pump R V antifreeze though them and away I go, was gone seven months this year came home not one problem just like past years, this was my 20th year to go to south Florida, same campground same spot and same folks parked next to me for years

[TomG2]

I am back in the RGV after May visits to Illinois and Minnesota. Like LynnandCarol mentioned, I want to experience some Summer weather in the deep south. Just got here a few days ago, so my feelings may change, but so far it is okay. Highs in the nineties are somewhat offset by 20 mph breeze. I have air conditioner as do all the places that I visit. I don't have many outdoor chores, but have already learned to schedule them early or late in the day. There are dances, festivals, and a few people from the winter to hang out with. I am having fun.

[Cloud_9]

Thanks to all, great feedback! Will have to check out that new fangled (to us anyways) technology. Weather related issues are a prime concern .

Carl

[almcc]

Cloud 9 wrote:
Just wondering, what has been your experience upon returning to S&B? Any damage, leaks, etc. not forseen, and not caused by vandals? I am wondering what have been the negative effects of leaving a house unoccupied for 4to 6 months, no natural disasters , just the normal seasonal changes in temp. Etc.

Carl

Like the above posts we have a web enabled thermostat to check and warn us of problems and we have a house checker that comes around picking up the mail and junk mail that arrives on our lawn.

We also live in a close knit neighbourhood, everyone watches out for each other, I once had a neighbour harass our son-in-law for putting stuff in our garage while we were gone. He got a laugh out of it since he is a police officer!

[Tripalot]

Cloud 9 wrote:
Just wondering, what has been your experience upon returning to S&B? Any damage, leaks, etc. not forseen, and not caused by vandals? I am wondering what have been the negative effects of leaving a house unoccupied for 4to 6 months, no natural disasters , just the normal seasonal changes in temp. Etc.

Carl

The one thing that I notice right away is that it takes a lot longer to clean a house than it does at RV! This after any length of trip.

[DustyR]

Cloud 9 wrote:
Just wondering, what has been your experience upon returning to S&B? Any damage, leaks, etc. not forseen, and not caused by vandals? I am wondering what have been the negative effects of leaving a house unoccupied for 4to 6 months, no natural disasters , just the normal seasonal changes in temp. Etc.

Carl

Mine set for six winters with camera inside to record break-ins. This past winter someone broke thru the rear door and stole some costume jewelry. The sad thing is that they were wearing masks so no positive ID. I thought about getting a alarm system installed, except it took the local police department over 40 minutes to respond after being called. Soooo what use is an alarm system.

[golfknut]

Cloud 9 wrote:
Just wondering, what has been your experience upon returning to S&B? Any damage, leaks, etc. not forseen, and not caused by vandals? I am wondering what have been the negative effects of leaving a house unoccupied for 4to 6 months, no natural disasters , just the normal seasonal changes in temp. Etc.

Carl

We have only completed two snowbird seasons but so far so good.

I do prepare the house for the trip and implement some precautions to lower the chances for bad things to happen.
I installed a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat so we can keep an eye on the house temperature while away. It is set to alert me by email if the temperature drops below a certain limit.
I also keep an eye on the house by way of strategically placed cameras that we can view on our tablet/smartphones.
And we have a neighbor or relative do a walk-thru every couple of weeks.
Even with these precautions in place things can still happen but I think we've lowered the chances somewhat.
Life is too short to spend worrying about a house.
I've got the most important "thing" with me. 😉

[John_Joey]

Cloud 9 wrote:
Just wondering, what has been your experience upon returning to S&B? Any damage, leaks, etc. not forseen, and not caused by vandals?

A good way to think about it is that there are 100's of thousands if not million snowbirds out there that leave their S&B behind for the winter with no ill effects. So don't let that concern hold you back from enjoying a southern winter with the rest of us. The first year leaving the S&B is always the hardest and most worrisome and something will be forgotten.

This last winter was the first in a new place to us to be leaving. I forgot to winterize the ice maker in the fridge.:S Took about three weeks to notice the ever so slow drip from the back of the fridge. That is now on my list of things to do.

[Cloud_9]

Just wondering, what has been your experience upon returning to S&B? Any damage, leaks, etc. not forseen, and not caused by vandals? I am wondering what have been the negative effects of leaving a house unoccupied for 4to 6 months, no natural disasters , just the normal seasonal changes in temp. Etc.

Carl

[8ntw8tn]

We spent a couple weeks getting doctor and dentist appointments out of the way and are still trying to get ahead of the lawn. We mow over 3 acres and it's usually pretty tall when we get back. With the recent frequent rains we've not been able to get completely through it before we need to start again. I purchased some new Grizzly tools for my wood workshop and have gotten them set up and am about to start my summer projects. Add in the few summer outings we have planned and I'm realizing it's a good thing I don't have to deal with any type of employment, as well.

[BarneyS]

We have been wrestling with doctor and dentist appointments, purchasing flowers and plants to get in the ground, and keeping the lawn looking good.

Most of my time lately has been spent getting my old RV air conditioner out and the new one ready to put in. Seems the old one needed me to get up on the roof to turn the fan every time it started up after sitting unused for a while. Decided I'm too old to be doing that anymore so purchased a new one which is sitting in the back of my truck ready to be installed. Should be done sometime next week.

Once the air conditioner is in, the trailer will go up to my son's family campground in the northern part of Michigan where it will probably stay for the rest of the summer until we take it back to Florida in October. Don't do a lot of traveling around anymore other than the trip South in Fall and back North in the Spring.

Chores around the house keep me busy for most of the summer and we like to spend time with our family at the campground. 🙂 (Those are my two sons trailers plus ours in the picture.)
Barney