Re thinking the Snow Bird idea

[rlocicero]

We are leaving for Florida as soon as my P/T for a replaced knee is done. We will not be taking the TT. we are going to stay with friends in NC for a week, my wife's cousin and husband in the Villages, an a rented condo in Treasure Island.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by Tall frog

We have said we don't need to be "snow birds" even tho we live in Southwest MI. in the lake effect region. The DW and I have said we can deal with the snow and cold, IN THE PAST. After the last week plus of sub 15- to -10 degree temp and having to spend 2-1/2 hours a day plowing and shoveling I am rethinking the whole idea. Went out again this morning to PLOW AND SHOVEL , I looked back at our poor TT and thought it must be saying to me " I've been good to you, not let you down but look what you are doing to me." Soooooo we may have a change of heart.

We live just a few miles East of you,,, close to 131 so we have not gotten the 5 ft of lake effect snow you have received,,, but I am soooo glad we had an RV Port built this fall !!! Sunseeker is dry & clean !!!

[sunnyinfla]

Were from Mi too and were in FL now,it was refreshing going from 5 degree's to 45..on the first day....go for it...get your butts packed and get the heck out....Suppose to be 70 tomorrow....

[cavie]

Originally Posted by Lappy

Come up to Montreal Quebec Canada, we are now the worlds coldest place on earth. lolllllll. Up to minus 26 celsius plus wind factor. Feels like Alaska

It's warmer in Alaska.

[Lappy]

You should have seen that last 2 weeks it was even colder

[CNYCamper]

Just got in after shoveling/snow blowing/roof raking lake effect for the past 3 hours. What gets me are my relocated to Florida relatives. When they were in hurricane season we were wishing them good fortune and to stay safe. I turn on facebook and the Florida crowd doesn't disappoint. I'm looking at a page filled with photos of beaches, palm trees and even shots of the snow in our area along with "sucks to be you" haha comments.

[RLHAMILTON]

Being a snowbird may not work too well. Here in GA this week the night temp is 19 with wind chill of single digits. Daytime is around 30. Only thing we don't have is your snow. Good luck!

[A32Deuce]

Glad I left South Jersey for South Bama!

[PenJoe]

We have what are called "round bottoms". We can't sit still and are very flexible. Also, we don't procrastinate over a bad decision.

On the first retirement we sold our home and MH up in tundra land and moved to Florida. Eventually, we decided to build another home in Wisconsin. We chose a slide-in camper for that adventure north. Home complete, we started to snow bird (driving) for several years after selling the slide-in. We maintained our Florida residency.

The lust for camping hit us again, so we bought a MH and sold the Florida home. One two-week trip and a 3-month stint camping at our old Florida stomping grounds and we again reversed course. Camping, for us, has changed a lot over nearly 50 years together-and not for the better.

After a month of a Florida camping life style, we decided to buy a mobile home in Florida. It is in a small, very friendly, resident owned community with fees of $170/month including everything (pool. game courts, club house, lawn maintenance). We pay for electricity. There are also a lot of perks with a Florida residency. Having done that, we returned to Wisconsin and sold the MH. We now fly between residences. All in a very short time span.

I know, the advantages of a camper is that you can travel to different places. But, we have done our share of traveling. And, as we all know, there are a lot of headaches with campers. Our plan is to enjoy the best of both climates in their best seasons as we have done for about 20 years.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Lvn2tvl

Whow, I like your cover much better than mine. The cantilever overhang looks great and eliminates post obstacles I normally see. I am however curious how close is the garage overhang to the top of your 5th wheel roof. Are those special order trusses or standard off the shelf ones? Even though I won't be able to build one at my current location this adds to my wish list.

As far as moving south for the winter I agree that negative temps are making us think as well. We're also getting the itch to hook up in October and seeing Minnesota in our rear view for a few months.

Thanks!
I have about 4" clearance with this particular 5th wheel.

I've got 13'6" from ground to overhang and with the MaxAir covers it leaves about 4" when I raise it high enough to unhitch.

Yes we special ordered the trusses special for the 12' wide overhang.
We are lucky we have a truss manufacturer less than 10 miles from us. They sell packages but you can custom build whatever you want.

We've kept our last 3 rigs under it and it sure saves on weathering. Hasn't helped on three weeks straight of -0° weather though! LOL!

[NorSnrub]

Wife got tired of snow, so we went to Arazonia. Havnt had to winterize for 5 years, except last year my pipes froze in Texas. Thawed by noon.

[Igave]

We went from 20 below zero F one evening to 40 above the next day. Lots and lots of snow as well. We're heading for Arizona this coming Friday, so of course it looks like another storm coming in. Sheesh! Looking for no time commitments in the coming year

[NO3putt]

Really nice in Arizona today, around 75 degrees this afternoon. Skip

[HAMMDOWN]

I have to ask
1.Are you retired
2.Are you being held hostage?
3. Why are you here?
I'm two years away from retirement and planing on being a snow bird what is keeping you here?

[gectisme]

Last week we were freezing up in NorCal, 40-70 so headed south. Still cold down here in Palm Springs at night, got down to 59 degrees last night, brrrr. Looks like it will be high 70's today. A little on the warm side, oh well, will have to deal with it.

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by gectisme

Last week we were freezing up in NorCal, 40-70 so headed south. Still cold down here in Palm Springs at night, got down to 59 degrees last night, brrrr. Looks like it will be high 70's today. A little on the warm side, oh well, will have to deal with it.

Very Impressed with your Mission Completed Map !!!
The Campgrounds looks like they put a trailer park in an old coconut grove !!!
Enjoy P S !!! Don't forget to take the tram up the mountain !!!

[Wolverine 1945]

Originally Posted by HAMMDOWN

I have to ask
1.Are you retired
2.Are you being held hostage?
3. Why are you here?
I'm two years away from retirement and planing on being a snow bird what is keeping you here?

If you are asking me,,, I guess it is several things,,, when we bought our little MH I thought we would travel to the SW in the winter !!! Life has gotten in the way the last couple of years,,, trips to the Pain Clinic every month,,, DW has doctors appointments,,, we don't have a Toad or the hook-up and are not sure we want to spent the money it would take to be a Snow Bird ???
Plus there is leaving our little home for 2 or 3 months ???