Snowbirds
As the clocks roll back and the leaves fall away, an annual migration begins all along the northeastern seaboard as hordes of snowbirds begin their southbound trek. Now retired, my husband and I have joined this seasonal brigade to seek the warmth and protection from blustery winds, ice, sleet and snow. Every year, he leads the charge. The words wind chill factor and snow packed roads are enough to send him running.
Like any decent, card-carrying snowbird, he has zero interest in sipping hot cocoa while icicles dangle from the window eaves. The minute he intuits a nip in the air, he has our bags packed and is raring to go.
Like our fine feathered friends, a snowbird refers to northerners who travel south for the winter to take up temporary residence. Just like birds of a feather, New York snowbirds flock together. Although we relocated to Denver some thirty years ago, we are still New Yorkers at heart. So many of us transfer seasonally to the state that Florida is often called the sixth borough, following Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Delray Beach is our snowbird destination, a small seaside community located south of West Palm. We purchased a small villa there soon after retirement. Although it sounds palatial, a Florida villa is just a glamorous name for a patio home. At first, our stays were short, but as our tolerance for snow and ice decreased, our wintertime stays rose.
Floridians claim to live in paradise, and that assessment holds true. The sun shines all day, and tropical breezes fill the night air. Every day feels like a weekend, and every evening feels like happy hour. There is always something to do as the weather permits year-round outside activities. Pickleball, shuffleboard, and bocce ball games are there to join. Golf courses abound. Mahjong rules in South Florida, so it is imperative to learn the game.
Fine dining is readily available as many famous New York eateries have opened their second locations in town. Early bird specials are always available. How early, you may ask? It is a well-known fact that snowbirds have lunch at breakfast and dinner for lunch.
Being a snowbird has certain challenges. Living part-time in two places can be costly whether you rent or buy. A home has maintenance and repairs, while renting seasonally can be expensive. As a snowbird, you leave one part of your life behind and adjust to another. As we age, this seasonal commute may not suit our needs.
My husband is already thinking this through, imagining our life as permanent residents of sunny Florida. Our little villa is very comfortable for us and our maintenance covers all the outside work. He dreams of this carefree lifestyle, but I am not ready to give up our life in Denver. Years of friendships, book clubs, golf leagues and special groups keep me firmly in place. Making these important decisions is inevitable, but not just yet. In the meantime, the snowbird life fits us just fine.
Bit by bit, that’s all she wrote…