Talk of The Villages Florida - I Want To Be A Snowbird

Talk of The Villages Florida (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/)

- The Villages, Florida, General Discussion (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/)

- - I Want To Be A Snowbird (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/i-want-snowbird-344917/)

Technically, a snowbird is one who moves from a cold place to a warm place in the winter, a northerner going south for the winter.
A sunbird is one that moves from a warm place to a cool place in the summer, a southerner going north for the summer.
:smiley:

There is a world beyond the villages - Del Webb is a great choice and found throughout the country. I'm sure not everyone has to be active 24/7. I am a hiker and hike up north all summer. The weather varies, not day in day out the same. It's a wonderful change of scenery. Go for it. If you have family you might want to be near then that's a choice also. Good luck.

I lived in a Del Webb before TV and I wouldn’t live in another 1. Had multiple issues with warranty work, hoa, and recreational area issues. I had to write the ceo multiple times and each time after he investigated the issues, they got fixed. You shouldn’t have to go this far.
If you want a cool place for a snowbird home in the summer, go up to Banff or Lake Louise area, gorgeous in the summer. A lot of golfing, scenery is awesome, and the people were friendly.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bowlingal (Post 2267757)

Canada

I wish there was an active retirement community like The Villages in Canada, but I haven't found one. The best scenario is a retirement community with golf and tennis and the rest can be near if you want it. Great weather in the summer if you go north enough like Collingwood, Ontario which is a retirement haven on a fantastic body of water.

If you are considering a place in Tennessee, I recommend Tellico Village. I believe it to be far superior to Fairfield Glade in Crossville. It is larger, with more amenities, on a bigger and cleaner lake, with built in social and support networks such as activities, recreation and wellness centers. It also has a daytime respite place for caretakers (if your spouse requires constant care from, say, Parkinson's, they will watch him during the day so you can run errands, etc.) and even a group of volunteers focused on helping you age well here. They will fix small things, pick up your prescriptions, change your smoke alarm batteries, etc.

It is long established, financially well off, convenient to shopping, and is much closer to larger amenities (cities, hospitals, etc) than is fairly small and remote Crossville, in my opinion. Crossville is good for one thing: Golf. That being said, Tellico Village has three 18-hole courses, two country-club club houses and a yacht club on the lake.

Best of luck on your search and decision.

Sun City Huntley, Illinois

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chi-Town (Post 2267718)

This is far enough away and close enough if you want. Very nice ad golf cart friendly.

https://youtu.be/0Pg4Wl1PIXw?si=ir3PFAZgetxepMo1

I am an agent in the Chicago Area. Feel free to contact me if you would like to learn more about Sun City in a suburb of Chicago. 630.327.7201

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mlogan22@tampabay.rr.com (Post 2267588)

Hello Everyone, I have lived in Florida all of my life and would like to get a place up north to escape the heat from the Florida Summers. I live in The Villages and would love a Villages up north.

My question to you all is, " Does anyone know of an active retirement community up north?" I have searched hours on the Web and have come up empty handed."

My only criteria is some place cooler. Thank you

I don’t know if you want to buy or rent, but there is Amberwood in Pa just north of Gettysburg. It has several activities, but no golf and not on the level of The Villages. You would have to buy.

I became a snowbird, Love it

I was diagnosed with emphysema, and had to find a place up north for my health.
Goto Niche.com, this will help you get an idea of what you may want! I choose lack of crime as one of my factors and of course weather.

I then narrowed my scope.
Holland Michigan
Midland Michigan
Appleton Wisconsin

I visited areas and ended up in Ludington Michigan, I love it!
It is a vacation area right on Lake Michigan and only a population of 10,000.
Very hard to find a place to buy! They have golf, pickle ball and many trails and just beautiful.

Like The Villages it doubles in size for the summer months.

I rented an Airbnb for a month to test it out. I loved it so much I bought a 1930 cottage.

I hope this helps you on how to get started.

I suggest you take a look at Northern Wisconsin or Minnesota if you truly want cooler summer weather. Door County Wisconsin is gorgeous but I cannot speak to activity levels up there.

Del Webb and Carillon have several places in the Chicago suburbs, including several that are 50 miles outside downtown Chicago.

We own a park model on a lake in Wisconsin.. tons to do.kayaking ,boating,fishing.,Green fees are cheap. Free pickle ball
Bar restaurant on campground
Free music at bars all over. Lots of concerts , craft fairs cute towns to visit
Campground spot right on lake $3500 season with pier.
You can put anything from a travel trail or to a mini home/ park model on it..
Best of both worlds
I usually fly back & forth
Leave enough clothes there.
I drove this last time home
Only 18 hours.
A one time only to rescue plants that. Would have froze in the gardens up there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 2267648)

Something that might interest you is the Summer Senior Rental Program at the University of Minnesota - Duluth. Other Universities might offer similar programs. This particular program has five- and eight-week sessions, supplying an apartment at one of the residence halls which includes (from the website) "Each apartment has a kitchen, dining area, bathroom, and two bedrooms with two single beds in each room. Each apartment is furnished with a stove, full-size refrigerator, dining table and chairs, couch and chair, end table, desks and chairs, desk lamps, closet and dresser space, beds and mattresses, draperies and shower curtains. "

The University also offers summer programs, classes, etc. for Seniors who might be interested in taking them, or they could just use the program as a base of operations to enjoy what Northern Minnesota has to offer in the summer, and it is a lot: outdoor activities predominate with fishing, hiking, camping being the biggies. You're less than three hours from The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness as well as Voyageur's National Park. Plus you're right next to Lake Superior, and with North Shore drive available it is incredibly picturesque. And it IS cool: Mark Twain once remarked that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in Duluth. A bit of an exaggeration but the "lake effect" keeps Duluth and other areas surrounding the lake cool even though it can get pretty hot inland.

Duluth itself is a bit of an inland cultural center with three Universities located there as well as one in Superior, WI just a short drive across the bridge. The port of Duluth/Superior is North America's most inland port and is a major shipping center, moving "a leading mover of bulk commodities ranging from iron ore, coal and limestone, to grain, cement and salt. Duluth- Superior is also recognized worldwide as the heaviest lift port on the Great Lakes for its expertise in handling wind energy cargoes, project cargoes, wood pulp, paper, steel coils and containerized cargoes." We used to spend hours watching the ships come and go, both "Lakers" hauling mainly iron ore out and coal in, as well as the "Salties" which come from ports across the world via the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. A major attraction in that regard is the Duluth ship canal which culminates the the Aerial Lift Bridge which raises and lowers so that the ships can pass. The canal is not that wide but has a protected walkway along the side, and the when the ships pass it seems as if they are almost close enough to touch.

That's just a brief overview: you can get a better idea of the costs and availabilities by visiting the UMD website and accessing the Senior Summer Rental Program.

What a great idea! I’ve just looked it up: Eight weeks for a COUPLE for $2550 (more for extras like a TV and sheets). Early June to early August. You won’t need AC in Duluth!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mlogan22@tampabay.rr.com (Post 2267588)

I used the below when we first started looking.

Home - Retirement Communities | 55+ Communities | 55places

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mlogan22@tampabay.rr.com (Post 2267588)

After being here for two summers, we have said enough is enough. We traveled full-time in our motorhome for 3 1/2 years before purchasing a home in The Villages. Next year, we are going to Bar Harbor, Maine for the summer and taking side trips to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and the Boston area. In 2025, we are headed to the Rockies in Colorado.

The enjoyment of having an RV is the ability to freely travel, stay as long or as short as you like in as many different places as you like. You don’t have the typical second home expenses, such as maintenance, HOA fees, utilities, property taxes, new furniture, and being stuck in one place. I am not saying you won’t have expenses within a RV, but they will be much less than owning a second home and being tied down to one place.