Are you looking to start living the snowbird life you’ve always dreamt of living? After retirement, many people choose to move to a sunny place with beautiful weather and a laid-back lifestyle.
In 2020 alone, about 400,000 American retirees chose to move out of state after retirement. This number is the highest it’s been in five years. If you’re on the fence about making your post-retirement move, this article can help.
For our top pros and cons of the snowbird retirement lifestyle, read on for our basic guide.
1. Con: Higher Costs of Living
Oftentimes, snowbirds will have separate homes to live in during the different seasons. For example, Canadian snowbirds might live in their Canadian home when there is warm weather. But, when winter comes around, they might move to their Florida home to escape the bitter cold.
Having two homes in separate states may require you to pay two mortgages or two rental installments at once. Even when you’re not living in one of your homes, you’ll likely still pay for utilities like heating and air conditioning.
You might also have two separate insurance policies on each home, meaning you’ll also pay different tax prices. Unless you choose the option of permanently relocating, this is one of the biggest downsides to the snowbird lifestyle.
2. Pro: Good Weather for Better Health
If you currently live somewhere with a colder climate, moving to somewhere sunny might prove to be beneficial for your health. This is one of the top reasons why retirees and snowbirds move to places like Florida, Georgia, and some areas of Texas and California.
Studies show that colder weather can put a significant amount of stress on the cardiovascular system. Colder climates can cause blood vessels to constrict and make it more difficult to breathe.
Warm weather and more exposure to sunshine can increase vitamin D levels and work to strengthen bones. Spending time outdoors can also help decrease stress and increase your activity level. This is why hotter states with no extreme winter offer the perfect snowbird weather.
3. Con: The Moving Process
If you’re choosing to temporarily relocate during colder months, you’ll have to endure the moving process each year. While you’ll likely have your furniture set up, you’ll have to move your clothes, household items, and any pet supplies each time.
This can be a stressful, time-consuming, and costly expense. If you don’t like moving around often, this is one of the biggest downsides of the snowbird lifestyle. Not to mention, you’ll have to hire a neighbor or friend to collect your mail and conduct daily checks on your home while you’re away.
4. Pro: Explore New Areas
When traveling to your snowbird rentals or vacation home, you’ll get to explore new areas, communities, and ways of life. This is why many snowbirds choose to travel by RV when relocating for the season.
If you’re looking to travel by RV, on a plane, or without your car, consider a service like Snowbird Car Transport. This service will handle your cross-country towing needs. This will allow you the freedom to explore different unique areas in an RV or take a flight without a worry.
Experiment With the Snowbird Lifestyle
Now that you know the top pros and cons of the snowbird lifestyle, what are you waiting for? Decide if this post-retirement path is the right one for you and live the life you’ve always dreamt of.
For more on all things lifestyle, check out the rest of our helpful articles on nikki catsura photographs.
