Snowbirding and Sunbirding

[Pete]

In 3 years I may try my hand at snowbirding. Who has done it, or is familiar?  I’m a total noob, and open to any warm area for the months of Jan - March.

Looks like Texas, Arizona, and Florida are the most common.

I’d like to rent a fully furnished  2 - 3 bedroom house or townhome,  with a fenced yard for my dogs for 3 months.

[tdaver]

Never done it, but I’d choose Arizona if I did.  Warm desert sunshine in the winter is a wonderful thing.  Some excellent outdoor recreation down there.  And you can see a Cats bball game.

[Pete]

Never done it, but I’d choose Arizona if I did.  Warm desert sunshine in the winter is a wonderful thing.  Some excellent outdoor recreation down there.  And you can see a Cats bball game.

It does seem like my fav so far.  Monthly rentals seem to become more plentiful after age 55 in the old people areas. Tucson seems cool, but I have never visited. I did really like Tempe, but not terribly familiar.

[star seed 7]

New Mexico seems pretty good but maybe still too cold?

[Tobias]

unconventional: alabama

[Pete]

unconventional: alabama

I love Gulf Shores, just not as many reasonable monthly house rentals

[Pete]

New Mexico seems pretty good but maybe still too cold?

Santa Fe  and Taos are quite a bit pricier. 

[pissclams]

i would look south of the border for a variety of reasons, although not sure what the tax implications would be

[Pete]

i would look south of the border for a variety of reasons, although not sure what the tax implications would be

I like that idea, but there are two challenges for me that probably make working abroad a no-go.  First, even though I can work from anywhere with an internet connection, my employer has made a stink about people working remotely from other countries due to tax stuff and due to arrangements with their partner companies that operate in those countries. It's a whole rough ridin' thing. Oof.

Second, my wife has a bunch of health issues that require monthly visits to doc, so we'd have to get that figured out.  Maybe we could just go for 3 week stints or something? Seems like a hassle.

[Pete]

I had considered doubling down on KS and buying land here, but for a host of reasons that isn't in the cards anymore.  So, my anchor home will likely be in Northern Minnesota.  I was going to keep a small place in KS (and I still might go that route eventually), but I am inclined to live in MN April - December, and just rent something fun for Jan - March.

[wetwillie]

My grandparents used to snowbird near Tucson, that's all I got Pete.

[CNS]

unconventional: alabama

I love Gulf Shores, just not as many reasonable monthly house rentals

Depending on what you love about Gulf Shores, you might be able to find something similar if you try Mississippi.  Biloxi, for example.  Maybe Gulf Port.  if you go a little further west, there are some small towns along the beach that are pretty sleepy but have the basic stuff you need.  I spent a lot of Xmases in those areas as a kid and its usually around 50 deg this time of year.  That may not be enough of a snowbird retreat in temp, either. 

[Stupid Fitz]

This appears to be a Pete flex thread. 'grats Pete.

[_33]

My parents go to south Texas every winter in their RV. They play tons of golf and pickleball. Seems fun.

[mocat]

new orleans, tucson, st george

[Trim]

How are you transporting the dogs from Minnesota?

[Pete]

How are you transporting the dogs from Minnesota?

Honda Odyssey with a 100K miles on it.  All of this scheme will be driving, and not flying.

[Pete]

The temps aren't that important to me. I kinda like hipster places, but I don't really want to pay the hipster premium.  Like, Sonoma looks cool and so does Santa Fe, but those are probably too pricey. I'm not looking to buy, just to rent for a few months.

[Pete]

This appears to be a Pete flex thread. 'grats Pete.

Yeah, it’s been a long road brother.

[Stupid Fitz]

This appears to be a Pete flex thread. 'grats Pete.

Yeah, it’s been a long road brother.

Just goshing you friend. Actually jealous. Mrs SF will never leave KS because her parents are here. I'd move somewhere warm right now. Snow birding is def something i'll be considering once my kids are out of the house.

[Catchacold]

I’d like to rent a fully furnished  2 - 3 bedroom house or townhome,  with a fenced yard for my dogs for 3 months.

not for snowbirding, but did this a bunch when my wife worked as a travel nurse. It can be tricky to find pet friendly short term rentals, especially in smaller towns. But beyond the hassle of getting housing and utilities setup, it is good fun to be somewhere new for a few months.

Tucson is good for cycling if you are still into that sort of thing. Also enjoyed St George/Hurricane UT, Henderson NV

[Pete]

I’d like to rent a fully furnished  2 - 3 bedroom house or townhome,  with a fenced yard for my dogs for 3 months.

not for snowbirding, but did this a bunch when my wife worked as a travel nurse. It can be tricky to find pet friendly short term rentals, especially in smaller towns. But beyond the hassle of getting housing and utilities setup, it is good fun to be somewhere new for a few months.

Tucson is good for cycling if you are still into that sort of thing. Also enjoyed St George/Hurricane UT, Henderson NV

These are great tips!  What was the weather like in those other spots in Jan-March?

[mocat]

catchacold and I are in lock step as always

[Catchacold]

These are great tips!  What was the weather like in those other spots in Jan-March?

Henderson would start around 65/40 in Jan to 80/55 in March
St George roughly 10 degrees cooler than that

Visited Henderson for the Cats game in November it was around 80, pretty nice. This is the "late night" trailhead just west of the city

[passranch]

New Mexico seems pretty good but maybe still too cold?

Santa Fe  and Taos are quite a bit pricier.

I have always enjoyed time spent in Las Cruces/El Paso.