Any such thing as a Half-Back Snowbird?

[lizzie]

Having been born and raised in the Florida Panhandle with some distain for "Snowbirds", I now find myself in a peculiar situation. Eighteen years ago we began to slowly progress toward the "upper" South, winding up in the mountains of NC. Last week I bought a property in the Florida Panhandle to park during the colder months. Does this make me a "snowbird", a "half-back", an "almost-back", or maybe a "silver-haired Crackerette"? lizzie

[tegu69]

Lizzie, you sure started something there. Being born and raised in Miami, I know a lot of people that retired and moved to the mountains in Tn and Nc. I guess the cold doesn't bother them. I could only move half way up the state. The panhandle is too cold for me and yes, now you can call yourself a snowbird.

[down_home]

North Carolina and South, Tn and North Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, in the Ozarks are all getting a lot of half backs. Taxes and cost of living, and less crowding, and no bake or less bake summers. Winters can be a little rough the higher you go though.
We're being crowded out. 🙂

[Hoppypoppy]

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

lizzie

Your OP mentioned "disdain" for Snowbirds. Being from a state with a similar situation, your comment struck a cord. I just kinda vented on how the majority (anecdotal evidence, not scientific) in our area feel about the yearly invasion. Didn't intend to hijack, just thought your comment kinda opened the door. My apologies. It was instructive to see how inventive some people can be in the way they "disguise" their name calling and vulgarity. Guess it gets em by the mods so it's all good. Have a great weekend. We are headed to the lake for a week or more. Good times.

[Francesca_Knowl]

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

If you're asking that question, you're too young to be a Snowbird (by any name), Lizzie.

Rambling off topic is one of the rights We Geezers vigorously exercise...and one of the few things we exercise at all!

[Dog_Folks]

Sorry the thread did get sidetracked and I was part of that.

I just cannot let it go when someone knocks my state or my town. So, again, I'm sorry and I LIKE you new name!

[lizzie]

My OP had NOTHING to do with a bad attitude towards snowbirds. It looks as if I am going to be one. The Saxtons were not crazy about the Normans and the Mongols were extremely unpopular, not to mention the Vikings. The world moves on and so do we. Lighten up! lizzie

[John_Joey]

fla-gypsy wrote:

Hoppypoppy wrote:

John&Joey wrote:
Is there such a thing as a local Floridian? As in more than three generations?

So how many generations were you in Florida prior to moving "up North." Or are you one of those let me in, let me in, close the door I disdain snowbirds types?

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

Please note this poster is from Arizona, not Florida. We are open for business.

LOL 😉

Like I said "let me in, let me in, let me in, close the door, I disdain snowbirds." Like snowbirds just showed up after they moved there :S

Most of you "local crackers" whose great grandfather settled in an area still sounds like just three generations to me. Your great grandfather's were the ones that messed it up for the true crackers.

You are known to them as "Damn Yankee's" unlike the snowbirds that are just plain old "Yankee's." It's the "Damn Yankee's" that the true locals have the disdain for, might be the reason why they try so hard to pretend to be a "local cracker" and be accepted. Like I said "let me in, let me in, let me in, close the door."

[lizzie]

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

[Turbo_Diesel_Du]

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".

[Dog_Folks]

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.

[lizzie]

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

[Dog_Folks]

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.

[Dog_Folks]

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]

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…