Snow birding or why?

NOt actually snow birds. We don't have super harsh winters normally. One hard freeze and we're usually done.

We are leaving Friday for three months and I wonder how folks prepare their homes. I worry about the cold weather we might have in late February and Early March. I have the pool pump adjusted and if a hard freeze is projected I will call and have the timer changed. We will turn off the water heater. It is located in an unheated space behind the spare freezer and refrigerator. We have the Nest thermometers so we can control the temperature inside.

There is just so much more to worry about leaving in the winter than other times of the year. However, by not returning until May we will be having to have someone take care of the lawn in addition to watching the pool. Do people use an all in one service? These are things we normally maintain ourselves.

Even though I love winter in Michigan (and am somewhat impervious to cold weather), Ed HATES winter. And my poor old back really doesn't need to shovel more snow. So I am typing this from mid-Florida, where the sunshine is like the Fountain of Youth. Aside from missing the family (who happily come and visit every winter so they can take a break from the cold and gray) - I'm pretty good about ignoring any obligations back home (or I can handle them via internet/phone)

We all have different likes and dislikes, thank God.

I've never lacked for projects to work on while traveling with our motorhome, so we don't miss dealing with the cold upstate NY weather at all. When our daughters tell us they just cleaned the snow off the roof at our Adirondack cottage, we just smile and say thank you! ;)

2oldman wrote:
Not me. Bad weather depresses me, so I'm constantly thinking about how nice it would be to be in warm sunshine.

Same here and X2 on that!

I was raised in Michigan in a poorly insulated old house and slept in an unheated bedroom with snow on the INSIDE of the window sill next to my bed. I learned all about shoveling snow, chipping ice, hunting in the cold, getting almost stranded on the ice floe while ice fishing, dealing with dead batteries, and having to stop along the road with a radiator that was frozen solid. Finally I was rescued via an opportunity to leave Michigan for California when I was 19 and have never looked back politically, environmentally, socially, economically, or weatherly.

Living in the particular place where we do here in CA, we don't have a tremendous need to have to escape for long periods of time in our RV to other places in order to get decent weather, natural beauty, or serenity. For short periods (our longest RV trip has been about 10 weeks) we do enjoy seeing other beautiful and serene warm places a few times a year ... but to do it with RV trips from a home base that is also pleasant most times of the year.

However, our few weeks of grey skies and rain in mid-winter can still be depressing. To help with this, the DW and myself sometimes sleep out in the backyard in our heated RV so we can hear the pitter-patter of rain on the roof while having sweet dreams of our next short trip!

Well for all the cold area living folks, Bless you. We need to keep the world balanced and from tipping over. WE are in the southwest, Arizona. Some hate the heat, I love it. When it gets too hot, we pack er up leave and go to your areas and enjoy the beautiful country areas wherever the weather is great. So to all, just go, travel, enjoy and be You! ! ! Safe Travels.

Here in MI today, the expected high is 51. Low tonite, 18 degrees. Freezing rain at some point along the way.

Yeah...

I have plenty of work to do in Ohio but I am having a great time in Arizona not doing it.

If the weather bothered me enough I'd simply go to Hi. and lay on the beach.
If fact that sounds like a great idea.

We're still quite a ways from retirement (20 years), but DW and I talk about this all the time. I would love to take off for 3 months to get away from the cold and snow - golf, walk, be outside, etc... She is less into the concept. I think the compromise will likely be 4-6 weeks (in 1 or 2 stints) in January-March, but we'll see. Like others, I get very down in the cold days of winter - I just can't stand it. I don't necessarily need to be gone for 4 months, but I need some breaks built in.

Even before retirement, once the kids are out of the house I expect that much of my personal vacation time will be taken in January and February. I just want to get away from it at this time of year!