Welcome

                 WELCOME FOLKS               
YOU ARE INVITED TO BE A SNOWBIRD!

WHAT IS A SNOWBIRD?
There have always been several types of this Famous Bird, who have followed a Seasonal Migration from their traditional Summer Home somewhere in the North Country, to their Winter Home somewhere in the South, usually The South West or Florida.
WHO WERE THE ORIGANIAL SNOWBIRDS?                  
Their Winter homes were mostly large Recreational Vehicles (RV’s) that they would drive to locations like Yuma Arizona or places in New Mexico & Texas. Others of these Snowbirds never stayed too long in any one spot and Bushwhacked through State, National, and private RV Parks.  Some are camp volunteers and still others Purchased Manufactured Homes and placed them in Rental Parks that they could lock up at the end of the season and migrate back North.
Most all of these Original Snowbirds were Fully Retired with comfortable retirement incomes that could be depended upon.  Sometimes the budget was tight after purchasing the large RV, the gas to keep it on the road, and keeping the northern home maintained. The winter location was often chosen for it’s low cost of living and warm climate, more than it’s Scenery or Cultural amenities.
WHO ARE THE NEW SNOWBIRDS?
Who else but the Huge Flock of the Baby Boomers.  76 million babies were born from 1945 to 1963. Every 8 seconds a Baby Boomer turns Sixty years of age.

WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS FLOCK?    
The not so good news; most of them will not be able to fully retire as early as the previous generation because of downturns in their savings.  8 in 10 believe they won’t have enough money to fully retire comfortably and will continue to work.  Almost 60% want to relocate and 75% want to relocate in a community that offers age diversity.  Many are putting off their Snowbirding, but You don’t have to!
I HAVE GOOD NEWS!
You must develop “A CUNNING PLAN”.   Here is a clue for you that those new Snowbirds that have gone before you have discovered, don’t retire… Semi-Retire. 
This will take some rethinking of the Old Snowbird Model, starting with the migrating pattern, the method of getting there, and where to nest.
WHY NOT JUST FORGET ABOUT IT?
NO WAY!   It’s Cold, I’m Tired of working Full Time; I owe it to my partner and myself to Enjoy Life while we are able of Mind and Body.  Any More Questions?
OK LET’S WORK ON “THE CUNNING PLAN”
Everyone must develop their own exact plan but there are some common parts to most of them. 

  • Start Planning Now with The Goal in Mind ….. You Can Fly Young SnowBird!
  • Consolidate your current debt, Start Today, every small improvement counts. Write down your current Cost of living budget, Now Prioritize.
  • Take an Inventory of your Talents, all of them. What can you do, what have you done, and what could you do. Think Part Time… Think SEMI-RETIRED
  • Inventory your assets. Are they getting the best return for your money? What could you liquidate? What could you Rent out or put on an Owner contract, to get a positive cash flow and free you up from a payment.
  •  Get a Slush Fund for the transition. Save, Save, Save
  •  Get Your Health Care Insurance Plan Worked Out.

What’s wrong with the Old Model…For the new SnowBird
With this New Model I would say the Destination is what needs to be looked at the most. Now on this Semi-Retired model Employment Opportunity as well as affordable housing must be figured in.  This is not all bad, as in the past cultural activities such as Concerts, Plays, and Recreational opportunities sometimes needed to take a back seat for lower cost of living locations away from population centers.  This could be an issue for more socially active people who increasingly feel that social activities will make them happier in their retirement years.

WHAT ABOUT THE RV (RECERATION VEHICLE) AS A SEASONAL NEST (HOME)?
This most coveted of Symbols of Freedom, the RV, may need to be rethought in this world of $3-$5 Gas and tight retirement funds. This is not all bad. I will explain this in the following “Sample of a Cunning Plan” section. Let me just say that fun and travel will not be forgotten or “We ain’t playin”.

JUST LIKE ALL BIRDS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT BREEDS OF SNOWBIRDS.
What all SnowBirds have in common is the want to make their over 60 years some of the best ever.  Each of us will have to make decisions to maximize our assets and minimize our liabilities if our plans are to become reality.
SnowBirds all seek to make our physical body comfortable in the warmth of the sun, and our inner life enriched through travel among the wonders of the natural world, that we have been so blessed with.  A world we may have not gotten to enjoy as much as we would have liked in our younger years, times when the demands of raising families and pursuing careers took over our wonder-lust by necessity.
What I want everyone to know is that there is a way for most all of us to become The New SnowBird if that is what we really have hoped for and now are willing to actively plan for and achieve.   LET’S GO…LET’S GO!!!