Snowbird Lifestyle, Cuisine, Entertainment and Travel
[Santa Rosa Beach, Florida near Point Washington] Three Housing Options: Rental, Own or RV? Firsthand Real Life Briefs from a Popular Web Thread Housing has been and always will be the biggest consideration as well as expense of the snowbird lifestyle. Housing choices dramatically affect …
From Snowflake to Snowbird A Mini Report from a Former Snowflake I wasn’t familiar with “snowflakes,” which are a variation of snowbirds, until a reader contacted me about it. Online Artificial intelligence (AI) defines the primary difference between snowbirds and snowflakes as the former have …
I'm continually inspired to write about real life situations and the topic of this post is especially hard hitting because it is about a personal story in our Northern community. Without going into a lot of detail, our long term rental property became the victim of a hoarding situation and the condo was condemned by the city as too unsanitary for humans and a biohazard. It made the local news for all of the wrong reasons and the facts are still unfolding.
Human and animal feces, bodily fluids, filth, damage, trash and debris plus an overload of personal property and possessions from multiple individuals created a perfect storm of violations. It was completely unexpected and we are still sorting out the mess of legalities as well as the steps to clean it up so it can become inhabitable again. The tenants descended a slippery slope of accumulating clutter that ultimately crossed the line from content-heavy to condemned. There's many reasons of how this happens and most people with a healthy mental outlook thankfully never get to this point. However, hindsight is 20/20.
By addressing the question of how much is too much stuff before it gets out of control feels better than cleaning up your own or someone else's mess. Embrace the concept of less is more and that's half the battle. Anyone who splits their time between two homes and two communities can feel better about departing for the season and stress less about leaving a festering disaster behind.
The time is now to get going. Most snowbirds depart for their warm weather community in the fourth quarter of the year and for me it's peace of mind to depart with an organized home and return to an organized home in the Spring.
My objective is not to advise on specific methods of organizing and decluttering other than to encourage you to research and chose something that you believe will help. The primary goal is to decide how much is too much stuff, then determine if the excess should be donated or discarded. I'm a firm believer that someone somewhere would love to have your duplicates. Don't wait until it's out of style or worn out to donate, do it now. Take the tax write off and feel good about helping another person or family who may be just starting out, divorcing and starting over or perhaps they endured trauma such as a fire or catastrophe and need a boost.
Don't overlook donating items for kids and pets. Animal shelters can always use items such as stained or worn towels and sheets in addition to other household contents. You don't need endless duplicates of sheet sets or dozens of bath towels. Keep only the best of the best and save a spare set or two such as cozy flannel sheets for winter and fresh cool sheets for summer. If your own kids and grands are getting older and you've been storing items of theirs that they no longer want, give their clothes and toys to an organization devoted to families and kids. There's no point in hanging on to items that are no longer age appropriate for your own loved ones. More than likely when the grands are old enough to be on their own or have their own families, they won't want "used" items, they will opt to buy new in the colors and styles they prefer. Why wait years for that scenario of "do you want this?" to even come up?
Where to begin decluttering? Start with a surface area, a drawer, a closet, a single room. The main thing is to simply start. When I spend time working on our vacation rental, I want the entire place to look as enticing and appealing as possible. No one wants to get away to what they left behind to escape: namely, clutter. A huge emphasis is placed by me on organization, cleanliness, spaciousness. Our entire beach condo is less than 800 square feet. The point is to make every inch feel like it has breathing room and no more than what is needed. I translate that same feeling to my primary residence, although I admit it is a continual work in progress.
What I did in our vacation rental is scrutinize each item for functionality as well as beauty. Once you have categorized by room of the house or some other criteria, put all of the chipped, damaged or broken items into a pile. If they are not going to be repaired, get rid of them.
Do the same for items that no longer have meaning or as much importance as they once did. Maybe you received gifts that aren't wanted or used. It's ok to donate them. Repeat the process for your clothes and closets, garage, office, kitchen, basement, storage room/s, attic and so forth.
Then work your way through duplicate items. An example is how many coffee cups are truly needed? Yet every time anyone visits a housewares store there's more coffee cups just waiting to be purchased. I'm guessing most homes have one or two dozen coffee cups when only 6 are 8 are all that's needed for one or two people. Flower vases, games, yard equipment, gardening items, crafts and furniture are other examples of categories to pare down. I'm amazed at the tendency to bring in more and more furniture over the years and never ever remove any.
How many collections of anything are that important? Or seasonal decorations? Or equipment for hobbies that you never started or no longer embrace. My husband recently decided to rehome his inherited antique gadgets and tools that have been occupying far too much mental and physical space in our garage. He doesn't use them and no one in the next generation will be using them. Time to go. There's many online groups devoted to enthusiasts for almost anything and that's a great place to start.
As you head to your warm weather community for the upcoming season, feel good about everything you sorted and donated. Chances are you made someone's day!
-- Marie Kondo, Japanese Organizing Consultant, Author and TV Presenter
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In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
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From Summerbird to Snowbird Transition from a Summer to Winter Stay in Your Warm Weather Community Many times I’m inspired to write about questions I receive seeking insight of the snowbird life. This time our repeat vacation rental guests asked about making the transition from …
Snowbird Housing Deal Breakers Hint: The Deal Breakers are Personal and Nuanced Price, location, view, pet friendly and availability are all deal makers. They’re also the deal breakers. However, there’s more to it than that. It’s the nuances of a particular rental that may or …
A year ago, my husband and I spent Thanksgiving at the beach and I loved it! It was that much better because Courtney and Bob, our Midwestern friends and their group of eight were in the area at the same time. We met them for dinner, walks on the beach and also gave a tour of our newly renovated vacation rental. When Courtney asked if I planned to decorate for the holidays, I told her no because I truly didn't think it could happen. Now, a year later, I realized yes I can decorate for the season!
Logistics were the biggest concern, but there were also considerations about finding the right mix of fun and festive versus too much, such as installing a full-sized Christmas tree in our 792 square foot space. Let's not forget the importance of appealing to as many people as possible without offending those who are not particularly religious or find the December holidays depressing.
Many snowbirds arrive at their warm weather home in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and/or New Year's Eve. Decorating with hints of the holidays is easier and less stressful, yet it feels quite homey.
For those who have vacation rental/s, providing a special touch of the holidays is memorable and may be the unexpected charm that helps build a loyal repeat client base. If you are already in the area for yearly maintenance, it's a good opportunity to add/remove the seasonal decor. If you cannot be there in person, perhaps your property manager or a local trusted friend or professional service can help out. Just make sure your decor isn't on display too early or too long past the holiday season.
Make a plan and set a budget. Be cautious not to overspend and invest in pieces that convey quality. Cheap close-out items are not endearing. I shop at national retail stores such as Home Goods, Marshalls, Kirklands, Hobby Lobby and Tuesday Morning and seek quality items that will enhance, not detract from my overall plan. If the item doesn't meet all of the criteria and I don't absolutely love it, I don't buy it. Less is more. Know your objectives, stick with them.
Snowbirds who own second homes vs. vacation rentals have much more freedom to do as they wish. There's more options for the type, size and nature of the decorations, as well as whether to store them on site or transport them to/from your primary home. No matter whether a second home, rental or vacation rental, a decision is required to make space to store your decor year-round on site or choose items that can travel in a vehicle with minimal damage. "Coming up missing" and breakability are less important for second homes since no one but the owners will be handling them.
Planning as far in advance will give more time to think, research, shop, place custom orders and make changes. With that in mind, please consider the following ten tips.
Related Post: https://midlifesnowbird.com/snowbird-holiday-decor/
Step one is to determine how you will handle transportation and storage. With that in mind, it will shape the framework for the rest of your plans. If your decor has to fit into your vehicle along with everything else, keeping the scale smaller is essential. Breakability is also part of this stage of planning. Fragile items should be carefully packed in bubble wrap within a sturdy box. If shipping your decorations, weight and bulk will add to the cost.
TwoChoose a theme and color scheme. The goal is to create a feeling -- an ambiance or whiff of the holidays. After much thought and online research, at first I thought I would focus only on coastal themed holiday decor -- natural elements such as starfish ornaments and blue and white kitchen towels with a smiling crab and "Santa Claws" emblazed on them. Instead of classic red/green, I envisioned watery blues, sea green and white. In hindsight I believe this is a rookie mistake.
It wasn't until I realized the decor still needs to feel "Christmas-y" that I changed my mind. Right or wrong, I decided to incorporate both traditional and coastal. Truthfully, the real turning point was I saw the most beautiful red and black buffalo plaid coffee mugs and knew I had to have them. So my theme became both coastal and red and black buffalo plaid. Ying and yang. "Christmas-y" and coastal in a fun, festive manner.
After all, when we were in our southern community for Thanksgiving, there was a beautiful mix of coastal and traditional decorations everywhere. A huge inflatable Santa in his red suit juxtaposed next to the white sandy beach of the Emerald Coast. We enjoyed rows of red poinsettias that were planted in the gardens of the public shopping areas; evergreens dripping with giant red ornaments and traditional red and green garlands draped from the exterior of the charming Seaside post office. Beautiful white lights twinkled in the evergreens as well as bejeweled the trunks of the palms. Christmas-y with a coastal twist.
Determine how many spaces you will decorate. I chose to focus entirely on the open areas of our vacation rental which is the main living/dining/kitchen space, plus the front door. I did not bring anything into the bathrooms, hallways or sleeping spaces. My decision was made in part due to transportation space as well as understating rather than annoying the guests who stay at our property. Remember, we are creating hints of the holidays, not going full steam holiday overload like scenes from the movie, "Christmas Vacation."
Keep it mostly neutral. Avoid too many cute messages that can quickly become annoying. Every time someone enters the front door
they will be reacting to your decor. A simple wreath on the door, as an example, is less irksome than a sign proclaiming "Sand is the New Snow" or "Seas and Greetings." No thanks! These messages get old fast. Likewise, not everyone is religious or shares the same religious views. Therefore a muted version of the classics may be a better option. Quintessential boxwood or evergreen arrangements with winter berries, fuzzy white trim and red and green tartan plaid convey the season in a secular way. Instead of a religious-themed liquid soap dispenser, choose Winterberry, Frasier Fir, Peppermint or Sugar Cookie.
Rethink and reimagine how to display your seasonal decor. Because we have no space for a traditional Christmas tree in our rental, a charming 7" hand-made Christmas tree constructed of starfish is a great substitute. Deconstructing elements of the Christmas tree in the form of gorgeous teal blue ornaments displayed in a driftwood bowl are fun without taking up much space. Sparkling garland in a white platter on the server buffet create another element of the tree without the tree itself. A small, charming Christmas ornament above the coffee bar area completes the concept of the deconstructed tree.
Think beyond the obvious. Displaying seasonal items on the countertops and end tables is nice, but don't overlook the feeling of Christmas. As an example, I purchased a charming 500 piece puzzle with a snowy country scene, old red truck, red barn and adorable Golden Retrievers. The scene has nothing to do with the beach, desert, lakes or mountains, it is appealing to nostalgia. Puzzles and the holidays are perfect partners. You will create guest loyalty because of your thoughtfulness tying into childhood recollections of family gatherings. Holiday coffee cups and accessories such as red buffalo plaid pot holders bring up warm memories of sipping something hot and baking cookies. Your guests are "home for the holidays," your job is to make it feel like their home away from home.
SevenBalance your decor. Thanksgiving kicks off the winter holiday season and New Year's Eve wraps it up. Find the balance of the start, end and everything in between. Follow the 15 - 70 - 15 rule of 15% beginning, 70% middle and 15% end for displaying seasonal items. I chose a beautiful seafoam green glass pumpkin with flameless votive to represent the Autumn harvest and Thanksgiving (15%). For the December holidays (70%), display teal ornaments in a bowl, a starfish Christmas tree, red buffalo plaid hot pads, Winterberry liquid soap, a festive puzzle and red/green tartan and boxwood arrangement. A sparkly garland with ice bucket and coordinating wreath on the door (15%) represent New Year's Eve as well as the winter season.
Safety first. If you don't want your guests burning scented open-flame candles due to safety and insurance reasons, don't encourage it by putting real candles in your rental. Instead provide flameless candles with fresh batteries. If your vacation rental includes pets and kids, don't leave fragile glass breakables within easy reach. Place them up high or don't include that type of decor at all.
Determine what not to bring. I love soft throws for the couch, especially in the winter. However, for sanitary and other reasons, I gave up the idea of leaving any seasonal throws for the holiday guests to use. Same for holiday throw pillows. I also vetoed items such as real pumpkins or live seasonal plants of any kind. At some point you have to set boundaries of where to start and stop. Your choices will be different than mine, but decide to edit yourself to know when enough crosses into "too much."
Leave a gift for your seasonal guests and/or yourself. If you have extra holiday decorations or order customized mugs or personalized items, consider leaving a gift for your holiday guests. Twenty bucks is a good budget that brings many happy memories to you and them. It's better to give than receive. The goodwill of paying it forward will always balance out. Cheers to the holiday spirit!
-- Hilarie Burton, American actress, businesswoman, author and producer
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from or in connection with, the use of this website.
Through this website you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Midlife Snowbird. We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links or advertisements does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
An example of a gulf front private home in Miramar Beach, NW Florida with full unobstructed views and two reserved off-street parking spaces Top Terminology for Snowbird Rentals 100 Terms to Know Before Renting a Vacation or Snowbird Residence As a long term member, and …
Snowbirds know a problem with your home while away is very stressful. Not only can you not personally see what is going on, you also cannot simply uproot yourself and quickly return to take care of it without a lot of upheaval, travel, logistics and more. That means you'll be relying on your home team who may or may not be able to do much.
Consider the effects of a winter power outage. Most extended outages that are more than flickering lights are due to ice storms and other severe weather conditions that adversely affect not just your home, but your surrounding neighbors for possibly days or weeks at a time. Freezing pipes, food spoilage, inoperable sump pumps and a lack of functioning security systems are just a few of the issues due to a lack of electrical power.
A whole home standby generator system is an expensive, yet solid investment to protect your primary home in the event of a power outage whether you are home or away. I won't be covering the features and specifics of installing whole home standby generator systems, nor gas vs. electric generators, travel generators or portable generators. There are many brands, types, product costs, installation costs as well as safety considerations. Instead I will discuss the significance of a whole home standby generator system as it relates to snowbirds who need to protect their home while away for extended periods of time.
A standby or back-up generator is permanently installed onto the exterior of your home, similar to a central air conditioning unit. The generator is professionally connected to a power source, such as natural gas or LP fuel and delivers power directly to your home's electrical system. Best of all, it will start automatically in the event of an electrical outage.
There are many variables such as how much wattage you need for the size of your home for the functions that will need power. You may decide to choose a system to power your entire home or only essential items. The costs increase based on the amount of power that you need for the size of your home. A mid-range back-up generator can start around $5,000+ with installation of $2,000 and up. However, it is an asset that can potentially save your home from the expense of floods due to freezing pipes and/or inoperable sump pumps as well as spoiled food. If you ever sell your home, a back-up generator is an asset that will appeal to your buyer.
Burst pipes for any reason are expensive to repair -- not only the pipes, but the water damage. Years ago, even with a house sitter we still had a burst pipe due to an exterior wall that was pounded with sub-zero winter winds while our house sitter was out for the day. The stress of being home and dealing with a significant flood is bad enough and with us being away while dealing with the aftermath and remediation of our badly flooded basement was too much. Even after we returned, it was weeks before the drywall could be repaired and our basement was fully functional again.
Many snowbirds shut the main water line off for the season. However, if anyone is taking care of your houseplants or checking on your home, they will not have access to running water unless it is turned back on again.
Investing in a whole home back-up generator eliminates the need to turn the water off or send someone over to trickle water through the faucets in the event of sub-zero temps.
A torrential rain storm or rapidly melting snow can result in a lot of water. Inoperable sump pumps can cause expensive water damage in the event of no power.
Even with a battery powered back-up sump pump, eventually the battery will stop operating. As a general guideline, a sump pump with a fully charged battery will run continuously for 5 to 7 hours or intermittently for one to three days, depending on the frequency of how often it runs. Alarm systems installed on sump pumps may not operate with no power. Even if the alarm alerts you, if you're at home or not, it doesn't take long for a sump pit to overflow.
Investing in a whole home back-up generator provides peace of mind that the sump pump will continue operating during the worst winter weather.
It doesn't take long for interior home temps to drop during very frigid weather conditions. Prior to being snowbirds, during a multi-day winter power outage we used our gas fireplace as a heat source. However, that isn't possible if you do not have a gas fireplace or are not home to turn it on.
Using a fireplace as a heat source is not ideal because it is expensive. Nor is it practical because it does not provide much heat beyond a ten foot radius of the fireplace, which puts your pipes at risk of freezing and bursting.
An unheated home is not comfortable to inhabit. We piled on layers of clothes and blankets and spent nights sleeping next to the fireplace with our dog in a very cold home. Not fun. It also is not fun to be away if your primary home is subject to no heat from a power outage because there isn't much anyone can do. A whole home generator would be a game changer.
Spoiled food due to no power is expensive and it is also a gross mess to clean up and dispose. Your spoiled meats and food will be creating a special odor in your trash bin until garbage collection day.
Although it hasn't happened to me, I know of a snowbird who lost power while away for an extended time. When they returned to deal with the spoiled food, the stench had permeated the plastic interior of their refrigerator to the point of having to start over with a new refrigerator.
As much as we try to pare down the contents of our refrigerators and freezers, it's nearly impossible to eat everything before departing for our warm weather destination. If you realize power has been lost and are able to send someone to retrieve the food, that person may or may not have enough storage space for it at their own place.
If your neighbors do not have power either, there's not much they can do to help. They have their own home and family to look after. It's too much to ask neighbors/friends/family to come over and run/monitor your portable gas generator for days at a time because you want to save your expensive food.
No one wants to be away with reduced security due to no power. Cameras and alarms are key layers to your security system. Not only that, but your overhead garage door may be unsecure, leaving your home at increased risk of break-ins.
[Ten Layers of Snowbird Security]
During the off-season even when residing at your primary home, an extended power outage adversely affects you and your home due to the same reasons as in the winter. Flooding from inoperable sump pumps, spoilage, lack of air conditioning/overheating and security remain core issues. Snowbirds who rely on medical devices such as CPAP sleep apnea machines, oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, stair lifts, chair lifts and power wheel chairs can have serious consequences from a lack of power.
Extended power outages that utility crews cannot repair in an hour or two are typically due to significant weather events such as tornadoes, hurricanes or derechos combined with torrential rain storms and flash flooding.
A couple weeks ago, a severe June derecho storm brought 98 mile-per-hour straight line winds that toppled massive trees as well as major power lines in my neighborhood. A major five lane artery street was closed for a week due to downed power lines. Side streets were also affected by large trees and power lines that fell. The storm brought national and international attention to our city because of the excessively high winds and a heat dome with 97 degree temps.
Our primary home was without power for 48+ hours. It was hot and miserable for us and our dog. Despite drawing the curtains 24/7 to keep the sun out, the interior temps reached 89 degrees in just one day. We unplugged all of our electronic devices such as computers and tv's in the event of a power surge when the outage was remedied.
Several of our neighbors own or borrowed portable gas generators during the recent derecho storm. How can you tell if someone has a gas generator? For safety reasons, they are located outdoors because they emit carbon dioxide and they are very loud when operating.
Many portable gas generators are very heavy. Although portable generators have wheels, it's not easy to move them from one place to another if you are buying or borrowing one. You'll need the strength to lift it and space to transport it in a large SUV or pick-up truck. Once home, you'll need to place it away from doors and windows, such as in the driveway.
Due to safety, never place a gas generator on a wood or composite deck or on unlevel surfaces, etc. Always read the safety warnings no matter what kind of power source you are using.
Don't forget to buy very long extension cords. Our sump pump is quite a distance from the garage and a long cord is the only way to plug it into the generator. If your generator has four outlets, you'll need four extension cords plus surge protectors.
New gas generators are scarce during power outages. Retail stores sell out fast. Portable gas generators range in price from about $700 to $2,400 depending on many variables.
A decade ago, just ahead of a monster storm I had purchased a portable gas generator for about $850 and thankfully it still works. We used it to power both refrigerators, a small chest freezer, one cell phone charger, one lamp, a crock pot, coffee maker and two small fans.
We felt we had to stay with our property to run the generator during the day and preserve our food investment. Gas runs to fill our small fuel tanks to keep the generator going were much more involved due to closed roads from toppled trees/power lines and needing to drive much further to reach a gas station with power. Along the way, I saw neighbors in the hot, sunny 97 degree weather having to cut down and move fallen trunks and limbs and deal with property damage to their homes and fences.
In the morning, my husband plugged in his coffee maker. Then we swapped it for the crock pot to prepare sloppy joes. In the evening, we grilled a meal of burgers and peppers, but truly it was too hot for that.
At night, we stored our portable generator in the garage to ensure it wouldn't be stolen from our driveway, which meant no lights, refrigeration or fans for eight+ hours during the night. We used the manual lock to ensure no one opened the overhead garage door. We slept on our basement floor because the interior main floor temps reached a sweltering 89 degrees and it was too much for our Golden Retriever as well as ourselves.
Thankfully we had running water and took very short lukewarm showers to preserve the hot water in the tank. A family member suggested we soak our dog with a hose to cool him off. It's a consideration, but Golden Retrievers and other breeds are susceptible to hot spots. Not worth the health risk. Instead, I followed our dog from spot to spot and kept the two small fans pointed in his direction. It was the only way he could stay cool enough to take a nap. We spent time in our basement to escape the much higher temps on the main and upper floors.
Thankfully we had portable fuel containers stored in our garage and we used $65 of fuel in two days via three gas runs. It isn't exactly cheap, but it's less expensive than the consequences and we were grateful to have any power at all. We joked about glamping, but we know there are many people who do not have air conditioning and we are fortunate for all of the days we do have AC. Our portable gas generator got us through the derecho outage for what we hope will be the last time until we can purchase a whole home standby generator.
To date, we have been fortunate not to have lost power for an extended time while wintering in our southern home. However, the latest derecho storm made us realize how much we rely on electrical power, whether at home and especially while away. We recognize what a disaster it would be if we were not able to stay with our property during an extended winter power outage. We are not willing to take more chances and will be researching the various options for a back-up generator. We still have plenty of time to hire it professionally installed prior to the next snowbird season.
Now, during the off-season is the time to do your research on whether a whole home standby generator makes sense for your personal situation. Hopefully, you'll never or rarely need to use it. The peace of mind as well as major benefits are appealing to snowbirds who need to protect their home from damage while away for the winter season. If you are unwilling to pay for the system up front, many prominent manufacturers offer payment plans. Investing in your systems is a wise choice for not just you, but your home team who will have far less to deal with in the event of an extended power outage.
-- Brian Logue
BE THE SNOWBIRD WHO IS WELCOME BACK How to Be Irresistible to Your Hosts Snowbirds who rent their winter residences are plentiful and there is typically not a shortage of guests who want to stay in a great property, which means it is important to …