Oh, no! The SNOW BIRDS are back!

[chell]

Sorry to snicker at you, but I feel your pain! I'm just glad that I can drive at least the speed limit on 2-lane roads for a few months now.

 

[jcemom]

This is one Northerner you don't have to worry about adding to the "Snow Bird" population! I lived in Orlando for a few years during college, and while I will definitely come back to visit (adding to the "Tourist" population, I guess) I would never want to live there -- again.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Kallison
So it's sunny and warm -- BIG DEAL. I love how all Floridians think all of us northerners are just dying to relocate there. My town is beautiful, it looks like something out of Norman Rockwell, crime rate is near non-existent, I can send my kids all over town on their bikes without a worry, the school system is top notch. What did I see in Florida -- nothing but strip mall after strip mall, couldn't even tell one town from the next. The school systems were nowhere near the caliber of the one we are in, spending per student was about 1/2 what we spend. From what I read in the papers and talking to others you can't let your kids out of your sight. I like fall, I like field hockey, I like snow and skiing and ice skating and sledding, I like looking forward to spring and summer, I also like closing up my pool at the end of August because I'm tired of it. I love living up north, snow, ice and all. I just took my dog for a walk and all I could think of was - God I'm going to hate looking at those stupid palm trees all the time. I also won't fit in because I don't have fake boobs, fake nails or a fake tan, won't pierce my naval or bare my belly 24/7.

LOL! I'm really sick of palm trees myself and miss the pines that lined our driveway in NJ and the huge maple tree in the front yard. Enough sunshine and heat 85% of the time.

 

[legs22]

My town is beautiful, it looks like something out of Norman Rockwell, crime rate is near non-existent, I can send my kids all over town on their bikes without a worry, the school system is top notch. What did I see in Florida -- nothing but strip mall after strip mall, couldn't even tell one town from the next. The school systems were nowhere near the caliber of the one we are in, spending per student was about 1/2 what we spend. From what I read in the papers and talking to others you can't let your kids out of your sight. I like fall, I like field hockey, I like snow and skiing and ice skating and sledding, I like looking forward to spring and summer, I also like closing up my pool at the end of August because I'm tired of it. I love living up north, snow, ice and all. I just took my dog for a walk and all I could think of was - God I'm going to hate looking at those stupid palm trees all the time. I also won't fit in because I don't have fake boobs, fake nails or a fake tan, won't pierce my naval or bare my belly 24/7.

Where is your town? I'm coming up. Sounds like a nice place to live.
And I fit in here ok even though I don't have fake boobs, fake nails or a fake tan, won't pierce my naval or bare my belly 24/7.

 

[Bichon Barb]

Hey Kallison, why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel.

I'm looking out my window into my backyard right now and see really green grass, sunshine (believe it or not it's going up to 57 degrees today), my neighbor's two horses, smoke coming out of their chimney and the hills in the background.

But, if DH takes the job in Stuart, I can drive a few miles and see and smell and touch the ocean, I can camp year round, and I'm only 1.5 hours to WDW (and Fort Wilderness). Oh the decisions! All I know is that if I do move down there, I'm going to need to lose 15 lbs., start getting profession pedicures, buy some Dockers shorts, get a cell phone and somehow get a tan on these very white legs.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Bichon Barb
Hey Kallison, why don't you tell us how you REALLY feel.

I'm looking out my window into my backyard right now and see really green grass, sunshine (believe it or not it's going up to 57 degrees today), my neighbor's two horses, smoke coming out of their chimney and the hills in the background.

But, if DH takes the job in Stuart, I can drive a few miles and see and smell and touch the ocean, I can camp year round, and I'm only 1.5 hours to WDW (and Fort Wilderness). Oh the decisions! All I know is that if I do move down there, I'm going to need to lose 15 lbs., start getting profession pedicures, buy some Dockers shorts, get a cell phone and somehow get a tan on these very white legs.

Your backyard sounds GREAT! I miss the fall season so much, although I can do without winter. I wouldn't mind living in the Blue Ridge Mountains if I could avoid snow...LOL!

Having the ocean so close is a huge bonus. Every Tuesday and Thursday I have time to kill before my first class, so I always take a drive along A1A and enjoy the view of the ocean and the intracoastal. Gorgeous! I don't get to the beach as much as I'd like, but I should start spending a Friday there every now and then. No Friday classes!

 

[Kallison]

Bichon Barb your view sounds like my view. I remember two years ago when we were looking for homes in Florida the realtor took us to this "fabulous house with a view" -- it looked like a swampy retention basin to me. I said "that is a view" - she said yes there are no houses there. I said can the kids go back there and play? She said - "are you crazy, there could be snakes or gators, they can never go off the manicured lawn area to play." My kids who are used to running through the fields and woods were like (sarcastically) super.

Anyway here are some pictures of my town up north.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~hanauer/tour/doylestown.html

 

[Pebblszzz]

Wow. I read the first page of this thread, and just couldn't read anymore.

I've lived here most of my adult life (Orlando area), and have moved away 3 times - and always come back.

Call me weird, but I simply LOVE Florida. Sure, we have snowbirds and tourists - but without them, our crime rates would be higher, the roads would be filthy, etc. They're good for our economy. And most of them are really nice people if you just give them a chance!

As for the drivers - you gotta take the good with the bad. Some day, I'm gonna be that little old lady behind the wheel, and I hope the young folks won't run me off the road. But I promise to stay in the right lane...

Maybe there's some areas worse than others, so I can't comment on ALL of Florida. But here in Orlando, us young folks really love where we live. We can still "visit" snow and the change of seasons, and don't have all the heartache that goes with that stuff.

But Christmas day in shorts and a tank top is kinda weird to me still. I'm praying for cool weather!!!

 

[Pin Wizard]

Originally posted by Pebblszzz
But Christmas day in shorts and a tank top is kinda weird to me still. I'm praying for cool weather!!!

LOL! That's the truth!!

 

[Bichon Barb]

Kallison, that is a BEAUTIFUL town! I posted a picture of my backyard in the springtime, but it looks like imagestation is down.

 

[Mishetta]

My DH says he wants to move to FL when he retires but I tell him that he'll have to go with his next wife since I have no interest in relocating to FL!

I've lived in NY, MI, CA, MI (again) & my fave place would be to go back to the west coast. Less humid. Although I hate bugs with a passion & you just don't see any here in MI....so maybe I'll just stay here!!

Vegas is getting really built up & the traffic is horrible there now too. We won't approach the topic of traffic in the Los Angeles area....it's really, really bad news.

 

[FOJMO]

Originally posted by Kallison
Anyway here are some pictures of my town up north.

Kallison,

There's absolutely no doubt that your area is absolutely beautiful! I've always loved the Bucks County area. I'm originally from Allentown, PA and whenever we go up north to visit, we always try to fit in a visit to Peddlers Village in Lahaska, PA.

BUT, we've lived in Florida for 14 years now (6 years in Orlando area and 8 in Pinellas County, near Tampa/Clearwater).

Just the fact that we see the SUN almost each and every day of the year is the biggest bonus to us. Of course, it probably helps that we moved to Florida from Rochester, NY, where we hardly EVER saw the sun -- very depressing! Worst five years of our life, living there!

And crossing the Bayside Bridge each morning and seeing that beautiful water is absolutely breathtaking.

I do miss the fall up North and would love to be able to go to the Apple Festival at Peddlers Village again sometime.

Each area of our wonderful US has something to offer as well as drawbacks. It's whatever you make of it, I guess.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I look forward to the day DH and I retire and we move up north. We live right outside an area where a lot of retired people live year round. Heck we have a bunch in our subdivision. It is always fun to read the subdivision's newsletter and see our president complaining that kids are making too much noise in their own yards and that we shouldn't set off fireworks. I keep saying that I am going to run for a board position just so families have a representative.

As for other industries in Florida, here we have many defense contractors and other high tech industries, which attracts a lot of northerns, and for that I am VERY THANKFUL!!!!!

 

[TennVolTony]

I'd like to see just one rule for the "snowbirds"

Don't allow them to bring golf clubs!!!
The typical round here goes from 3 hours 45 minutes to over 5 1/2 hours when they hit town!!

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by TennVolTony
I'd like to see just one rule for the "snowbirds"

Don't allow them to bring golf clubs!!!
The typical round here goes from 3 hours 45 minutes to over 5 1/2 hours when they hit town!!

...................

 

[Kallison]

Fojmo -- if we end up moving you'll be hearing from me for advice! I guess we'll adjust but I would rather stay where I am. It just annoys me when people assume we should be thrilled to be leaving the North. I've no doubt that FL has its advantages. I just love where I"m at.

 

[BelleBeautyandtheBeast]

Originally posted by Kitty 34
You guys sound like us, in our little town when the COLLEGE students come back in the Fall!!!!

When I first saw this post that is exactly what I imagined. It is horrible here every fall. People moving in, driving carelessly, the roads are packed, the stores are packed, the restaurants are full. It is even worse on campus, no parking spaces, people walking in front of moving vehicles. Now that we are down to the final 3 weeks of the semester I am looking forward to winter break with an empty town And I have nothing against college students, I am one (10 years after high school, 1 husband and 3 kids later, I will get that degree!!)

 

[Nutsy]

Pardon my ignorance, but what exaclty are snowbirds? At first I thought it must be an actual bird, but then as I read on, you got to talking about people.

Sorry, but I'm confused

 

[Cruisin]

snowbirds is a term used to describe people from colder climates who migrate to warmer places such as Florida, Arizona, etc.

Widely in use here in Canada where a lot of retired people do just that, living part of the year here and part of the year there

 

[Nutsy]

Thanks for that Cruisin'Kroezes. Now I understand