Snow Birding

[Michael G.]

If you are a snow bird here in TV, what month do you normally go back up north?
Do you fly or drive?

Cheers!

[themartianchick]

We always drove back to NY near the end of March.

[B-flat]

We are here more than in the north. We leave in May and return in September. We used to leave right after Christmas then return to the north in late April. Since we have a dog flying is not an option and the 1325 mile ride twice per year is a pain in the butt, but with a dog we don't have much choice.

[rustyp]

We always drive now. At my age my arms get too tired to fly.

[VIN574]

Drive down late September then back north in early May. Fly back and forth for Thanksgiving and Christmas, leaving the car here. YMMV

Best

[VIN574]

...

[Keefelane66]

Leave (drive) mid May for Westerly Ri return mid October then fly for Thanksgiving & Christmas

[thevillages2013]

If you are a snow bird here in TV, what month do you normally go back up north?
Do you fly or drive?

Cheers!

Are you offering a bonus for those who leave early:popcorn::bigbow:

[Stu from NYC]

Are you offering a bonus for those who leave early:popcorn::bigbow:

The bonus is only for those who avoid 27/441.

[asianthree]

Car in TV and up north, can fly anytime, or drive if we want.

[Michael G.]

Are you offering a bonus for those who leave early:popcorn::bigbow:

No, in fact I think that's great to be healthy enough to travel and maintain two houses.

We thought about being a snowbirds at one time, but my wife didn't think much of the
idea having someone watch our house in Wisconsin and removing the snow in our driveway all season.

When we rented 5 years ago in TV, our sump pump failed up north and we came
home to 6" of water in our basement and lost a lot of personal stuff.

My neighbor checked the house Friday morning, rain all day on Friday, and didn't notice the mess until Saturday morning.

Wife said that's enough, chose were you want to live full time.

Have a safe trip regardless if you fly or drive.

[JMintzer]

IMHO I don't know WTF is YMMV. When did we start speaking in shorthand ? IMHMTM (I must have missed the memo).

Your Milage May Vary...

AMFYOYO! :1rotfl:

[thevillages2013]

Your Milage May Vary...

AMFYOYO! :1rotfl:

Had to Google it didn’t you? Be honest!:popcorn:

[JMintzer]

Had to Google it didn’t you? Be honest!:popcorn:

Nope, use it all the time...

Did you Google AMFYOYO? :shocked:

[VIN574]

IMHO I don't know WTF is YMMV. When did we start speaking in shorthand ? IMHMTM (I must have missed the memo).

Yeah, don't care what your missed. GAL

[Michael G.]

Your Milage May Vary...

AMFYOYO! :1rotfl:


Curious people shouldn't goggle this, like I just did..........:shocked:

[FLBeans]

If you are a snow bird here in TV, what month do you normally go back up north?
Do you fly or drive?

Cheers!

Amtrack Auto Train ! Taken it several times.

[thevillages2013]

Nope, use it all the time...

Did you Google AMFYOYO? :shocked:

Yes I did . Adios!:icon_wink:

[rustyp]

Your Milage May Vary...

AMFYOYO! :1rotfl:

Yeah, don't care what your missed. GAL

No speaking in forked tongues for me. "Bless Your Hearts".

[DaleDivine]

Amtrack Auto Train ! Taken it several times.

We have a couple of seasonal friends that do this. Get a sleeper car on the train.
:icon_wink::coolsmiley:

[DaleDivine]

Your Milage May Vary...

AMFYOYO! :1rotfl:
I've used this one a lot. Hopefully no children Google it. :1rotfl:
Adios...

:MOJE_whot::1rotfl:

[msilagy]

I'm wondering what business this is of yours???

[toeser]

Mid-May. Drive.

[ThirdOfFive]

No, in fact I think that's great to be healthy enough to travel and maintain two houses.

We thought about being a snowbirds at one time, but my wife didn't think much of the
idea having someone watch our house in Wisconsin and removing the snow in our driveway all season.

When we rented 5 years ago in TV, our sump pump failed up north and we came
home to 6" of water in our basement and lost a lot of personal stuff.

My neighbor checked the house Friday morning, rain all day on Friday, and didn't notice the mess until Saturday morning.

Wife said that's enough, chose were you want to live full time.

Have a safe trip regardless if you fly or drive.
My wife and I have actually talked about doing it in reverse. Dunno how well it would work (probably a year-by-year thing) but as I've discovered to my surprise that as I actually love the summers down here, we talked about renting the place out for Jan. Feb. and Mar., and using that time to travel. We have a lot of friends and family along the southern tier of states (Florida panhandle, Texas, Arizona, Nevada) and cruising is opening up again, so it does seem to make some sense. Plus the rental income from renting those three months means that we'd have some significant playing-around money as well.

[mikeritz53]

Make sure you hire a Company to make weekly visits to your home. Some Homeowners policies have a Vacancy Clause where they can deny claims if you do not have an actual company doing the visits. They do not count neighbors, Friends Relatives, etc. as qualifying. I manage 150+ Snowbird's properties here in The Villages and have had people come onto my service after having this issue.

[ThirdOfFive]

Make sure you hire a Company to make weekly visits to your home. Some Homeowners policies have a Vacancy Clause where they can deny claims if you do not have an actual company doing the visits. They do not count neighbors, Friends Relatives, etc. as qualifying. I manage 150+ Snowbird's properties here in The Villages and have had people come onto my service after having this issue.
Hadn't thought of that but thanx. Good advice.

I agree that a visit to our insurance agent would be advisable as well: had to have something happen and then find out that we're not covered for it because we neglected to jump through this-or-that hoop.

[JMintzer]

I'm wondering what business this is of yours???

Oh, I don't know... Curiosity?

Don't like the question? Don't answer it...

[Worldseries27]

we always drive now. At my age my arms get too tired to fly.
at times i've taken the blue ridge parkway heading north.
Stop at cherokee and boone nc various hotels along the way. Takes a few days but no longer serve the clock or calendar

[La lamy]

We always drive now. At my age my arms get too tired to fly.

:1rotfl: :1rotfl: :1rotfl:

[La lamy]

My wife and I have actually talked about doing it in reverse. Dunno how well it would work (probably a year-by-year thing) but as I've discovered to my surprise that as I actually love the summers down here, we talked about renting the place out for Jan. Feb. and Mar., and using that time to travel. We have a lot of friends and family along the southern tier of states (Florida panhandle, Texas, Arizona, Nevada) and cruising is opening up again, so it does seem to make some sense. Plus the rental income from renting those three months means that we'd have some significant playing-around money as well.

Love is a very strong word. "Don't mind" I hear a lot, but "LOVE"!!!! Wow.

[asianthree]

With today’s technology I can run multiple houses without ever having any issues. If the power goes out I notified immediately by text and email. A water issue the sensor will send an immediate text and I can have somebody at the house within the hour. We do shut off the water at lake house it’s just easier. Only issue we have had since 2010, was bees decided to try to nest in our fireplace flue. Lawn guy found them called the Bee wrangler, problem solved, the wrangler was happy to get the stay over guests.

All of our houses are checked on weekly. We have cameras inside and out I can contact our home watch people and they could be at the house within 15 minutes.

[Michael G.]

Amtrack Auto Train ! Taken it several times.

Were we lived in the boonies and train tracks haven't been laid yet.
I would have to hitch-hike 40 miles.

[Michael G.]

Personally, I just never seen the need to be a snowbird or the expense that comes with it.

Our son and wife live 4 blocks away.

We don't mind the summer months in Florida, there is still in-laws living up north,
that never did understand why anyone could live in Florida in the summer until
they want to come and visit in the winter, go figure.

[brianherlihy]

We were snowbirds for 8 years, we paid the same property tax and amenity fees. We were here for 6 months of the year and did not use water, trash, golf courses etc.. Good thing we help to carry the costs.

I don't understand your question? Why does anyone need to know how we got here or when we come and go...?????

[Stu from NYC]

We were snowbirds for 8 years, we paid the same property tax and amenity fees. We were here for 6 months of the year and did not use water, trash, golf courses etc.. Good thing we help to carry the costs.

I don't understand your question? Why does anyone need to know how we got here or when we come and go...?????

I find this to be an interesting thread.

Told my wife when we talked about moving here we will have one house either here or in Va. We both agree the Villages was the place to come to.

[Velvet]

We were snowbirds for 8 years, we paid the same property tax and amenity fees. We were here for 6 months of the year and did not use water, trash, golf courses etc.. Good thing we help to carry the costs.

I don't understand your question? Why does anyone need to know how we got here or when we come and go...?????

My assumption is that perhaps they plan to be snowbirds themselves and wonder how others are doing it?

[Bay Kid]

I find this to be an interesting thread.

Told my wife when we talked about moving here we will have one house either here or in Va. We both agree the Villages was the place to come to.

Agreed that having 2 homes is a challenge but it is to hard to leave the Chesapeake Bay in VA. The very best of both worlds!

[Stu from NYC]

Agreed that having 2 homes is a challenge but it is to hard to leave the Chesapeake Bay in VA. The very best of both worlds!

The most important thing is it works for you.

[ThirdOfFive]

Love is a very strong word. "Don't mind" I hear a lot, but "LOVE"!!!! Wow.
Heh. True, though.

Guy stopped me on one of my daily walks last July. 96 degrees F. and w/the heat index it was something like 118 degrees. He had a spare bottle of water and said he'd give it to me (I declined). He said that walking in such heat was VERY dangerous. I replied that I had 72 years of living in that icebox called Minnesota to make up for and that this was heaven in comparison!

Love? Not an exaggeration. Arthritis is pretty much gone And having a tan you don't have to pay for is great.

[Spalumbos62]

With today’s technology I can run multiple houses without ever having any issues. If the power goes out I notified immediately by text and email. A water issue the sensor will send an immediate text and I can have somebody at the house within the hour. We do shut off the water at lake house it’s just easier. Only issue we have had since 2010, was bees decided to try to nest in our fireplace flue. Lawn guy found them called the Bee wrangler, problem solved, the wrangler was happy to get the stay over guests.

All of our houses are checked on weekly. We have cameras inside and out I can contact our home watch people and they could be at the house within 15 minutes.

Just wondering...do you have inside cameras that you watch while you have guest staying?...or did I misread that?
I ask bc we put up an outside camera and I know some renters don't like that, but honestly it's just to watch the place....although inside would be nice I don't think renters would...lol
( honestly, just wondering, not judging)

[Packer Fan]

Love is a very strong word. "Don't mind" I hear a lot, but "LOVE"!!!! Wow.

We are not retired yet so we mainly come down for 3-4 weeks in july or August. We do love it. Less crowded and the weather is extremely predictable - Nice until about 9:30 or 10 (get the bike ride or golf in first thing). Go to the pool or stay in until about 1-2 pm. Then it rains for 20-30 minutes and the temps drop to the low 80s for a lovely evening for our trip to the squares. When it gets into the 90s in Wisconsin, there is ZERO relief for weeks. Hot as hell at night too. Summer in TV is the best kept secret.