Grand Living aka the SnowBird’s Life

That’s it! What does it mean to be a “SnowBird”? And I’m NOT talking about animals, I’m referring to …

A snowbird is a term often associated with people who move from the higher latitudes and colder climates of the northern USA and Canada and migrate southward in winter to warmer locales such as Florida, California, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, or elsewhere along the Sun Belt of the southern United States, Mexico and areas of the Caribbean” (source: Wikipedia.org)

Now we know who the SnowBird aka winter-visitor is, but what they do? How they live? Is it really the Grand Life or not so much? Is it an interesting way of living?

I can speak on behalf of Arizona and what I see here, I’m not sure about Caribbean or Mexico although I wouldn’t mind visiting those locations.

What fascinates me is that whole trend, there are many people who decide they want to divide their living arrangements between two locations and in many cases we are talking about locations that are thousands miles apart.

I know just one perspective – as someone who lives in Arizona full time and has friends among SnowBirds. I just observe the way it looks like but I have not experienced that lifestyle. So I wonder…

Maybe the reason why so many people are doing it is very simple – good winter weather in Arizona? Maybe there’s more to it, like just sampling a need for a change. Maybe.

I stumbled across some numbers on how many people move to Ariona for the winter.

The last reliable study of “SnowBirds” impact was conducted by Arizona State University more than 10 years ago. The last study conducted after the 2003-04 visitor season, estimated the state’s seasonal population swelled by about 300,000 long-term visitors, with a spending impact of $1 billion. (Source: azcentral.com)

Then I also found that:

According to state tourism office figures, overall travel-related spending in Arizona from January through March 2008, the peak months of winter-visitor season, was $6 billion. And $6.3 billion in 2013 (January – March).  (Source: azcentral.com)

Everything begins in late October, winter-visitors aka SnowBirds start to arrive to Arizona. And I’ve noticed that people who live full time here are divided into two groups:

• those who like winter-visitors
• and those who are not so happy

Why some people are not so happy about the arrival of SnowBirds? It’s about traffic. More traffic all over the Valley and more crowded restaurants, stores, etc. The way I see it, winter-visitors are nice people and they bring many $$$ to the Arizona economy, which means progress and improvement. That’s good, right?!

It’s also about adjustment. During summer months the Valley is deserted place (and we are already living on the desert). Not much is going on outdoors and indoors. Most of outdoor events are scheduled between September – April and for the rest of the year is simply too hot to stay outside for too long. During the cooler months there are so many things (events, entertainment, etc.) to choose from that is almost overwhelming. And then summer season hits and…then everyone and everything is in “surviving the hot weather mode”.

So, yes I like when SnowBirds visit for the winter. It’s good. And if you don’t like traffic, just leave 30min earlier and you will be fine 😉 There’s enough space for everyone so ket’s look at this from the positive way.

Again I wonder how interesting that type of life can be. Part of the year they spend in their hometowns, somewhere in the Midwest, Northern states or Canada. And for few months during the year SnowBirds travel all the way South to enjoy the good weather. Some travel by RV, some just drive regular car and some travel by plane.

I think that there is also something great/grand about the travel itself. You can visit so many beautiful and interesting places along the way. And then that whole location change. From cold Canada and  Minnesota winter to warm and sunny Arizona.

SnowBirds, you are part of Arizona and you are very welcome here.

Think it is Grand Living after all.