Fall is right here. This can be a huge time of 12 months for RV snowbirds, as they’re all on the brink of make a significant transfer.
Undecided what precisely I imply by that? Properly you’re in the correct place, as a result of I’m an RV snowbird of kinds myself, and I’m right here to clarify precisely what it’s that makes us snowbirds and why we do what we do. I’ll even embrace some tips about the way to be a part of our flock in case the concept sounds interesting to you!
What’s a Snowbird?
First, let’s talk about what precisely an RV snowbird is. These are individuals who usually spend the summers within the northern a part of the nation to keep away from the worst of the warmth, after which use an RV emigrate south for the winter season identical to birds do. They chase good climate and keep away from ice and snow.
Some snowbirds have a home up north and solely spend winters of their RV down south. Others are of their RV all 12 months lengthy. Some go away their RVs in storage within the south for summer time; others take them house with them.
Many RV snowbirds head south starting in October and November. Others wait till after they’ve spent the vacations with household. Some meander south slowly, stopping to see issues alongside the way in which, whereas others rush south, their solely purpose being to get away from the chilly.
There aren’t actually many guidelines surrounding the way to be an RV snowbird. The one actual necessities to suit into this class are that you just reside in an RV within the south throughout the chilly months.
The place Do Snowbirds Go for Winter?
What does it imply to move south, precisely? The place do these RV snowbirds spend their winter months? Actually, there is no such thing as a one place that each one snowbirds flock to for the winter season. That mentioned, many snowbirds like to move to Florida, Arizona, south Texas, and southern California to benefit from the comparatively heat climate in these locations.
Particular cities that see a number of RV snowbirds embrace:
- Gilbert, AZ
- Mesa, AZ
- Phoenix, AZ
- Shock, AZ
- Fort Myers, FL
- Bradenton, FL
- Naples, FL
- Sarasota, FL
- Palm Springs, CA
- Palm Desert, CA
- Desert Sizzling Springs, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Antonio, TX
- Galveston, TX
- Corpus Christi, TX
- South Padre Island, TX
Suggestions for Turning into an RV Snowbird
Prepared to hitch the flock and develop into an RV snowbird your self? Listed below are my prime ideas for getting began.
Select Your RV Correctly
First, be sure to select your RV correctly. Decide one thing well-built that may stand up to chilly temperatures, as a result of some snowbird locations do see freezing temps from time to time. For those who plan to take a seat in a single park for the entire winter, a towable RV could be your finest guess. Those that transfer usually would possibly choose a motorhome as a substitute.
I like to recommend going to an RV show so you possibly can truly get a really feel for every RV’s construct high quality and structure earlier than you determine what’s finest for you.
Set a Finances
As a snowbird, it may be straightforward to overspend throughout the winter months. It’s necessary that you just set a budget in your months away out of your sticks-and-bricks house and stick with it. Thankfully, there are tons of the way to chop prices and nonetheless have a very good time down south.
Know Methods to Put together
For those who plan to maintain your sticks-and-bricks home, you will want to prep it earlier than you allow it sitting for 3–6 months. Listed below are the steps you’ll must take:
- Carry any unfastened objects (garden decor or furnishings) inside.
- Clear gutters so melting snow can move.
- Substitute worn climate stripping.
- Fill any gaps or holes within the exterior of your home with metal wool.
- Shut off your water.
- Carry out furnace upkeep, together with altering the filter.
- Flip the warmth down, however not off.
- Flip off the water heater.
- Unplug all home equipment.
- Clear out the fridge.
- Put all meals in pest-proof containers.
- Open the dishwasher, washer, and fridge to forestall mildew, mildew, and smells.
- Shut the hearth flue.
- Open all inside doorways to permit air to flow into.
- Cease paper supply.
- Arrange name forwarding from your private home cellphone to your cellphone.
- Let the financial institution know you’ll be touring.
- Speak to your insurance coverage agent about your plans so the correct modifications might be made to your coverage.
- Arrange on-line cost choices for all payments.
- Make a plan for medicine refills along with your physician.
- Organize for a home sitter to test on issues, water vegetation, and so on.
- Arrange timers for inside lights so they arrive on within the evenings.
- Rent a snow removing service.
- Safe valuables in a protected deposit field.
- Set up a house safety system.
- Arrange a temperature monitor that can provide you with a warning within the furnace isn’t working correctly.
Determine Out Methods to Get Mail
Even when you pay all payments on-line, getting mail remains to be necessary. Make a plan for the way you’ll obtain your mail when you’re away. Most publish workplaces will maintain mail when you’re out of city, however many will solely do that for as much as 30 days. For those who’ll be gone longer, you possibly can have somebody choose your mail up from the publish workplace and ask for one more 30 days every month.
It’s additionally doable to request that the publish workplace ahead your mail to your southern deal with—or to an deal with with a service corresponding to Escapees, which might then ahead the mail to you wherever you occur to be.
Ebook Your RV Spot Early
There are literally thousands of snowbirds that make their method south every winter. Due to this, the most well-liked snowbird locations e book up early. Be sure to research RV parks and make a reservation (or sequence of reservations) wherever you need to be as early as doable. Failing to take action might go away you with nowhere to go.
For those who do miss out on reserving an RV park, there’s the choice of boondocking with different snowbirds in Arizona or SoCal. Simply make sure that you and your rig are ready for long-term boondocking earlier than you head out.
Able to Roost?
RV snowbirds are a intelligent breed. They’ve found out a technique to have the very best of each worlds to allow them to get pleasure from countless summer time and adventures. Why not be a part of them this winter to see if the snowbird way of life is for you?
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