The snowbird phenomenon

Down here in Zephyrhills, the sheer number of retirement communities blows my mind. Every time I drive down a different street, I see a road leading to a trailer park or another mobile home subdivision, and the traffic is pretty solid going in and out of them. My sister Norma Jean lives in Betmar Acres, a 55-and-older retirement community with 1600 homes. She tells me that at least half of the residents are snowbirds, most of whom come from the eastern part of the country: Ontario, Canada; Maine, New York, and Michigan.

This morning before 8:00 am, we went to the pool so Norma Jean could swim laps. It's right next to one of the golf courses, and here you can see the golfers heading out in the early morning light to beat the rush. I can see why people would like to escape the cold and snow of the fall and winter, since the temperature here in February is amazing, with an average daily high temperature around 72 degrees. Right now we are having a heat wave of 80 degrees or hotter, but this community has three nine-hole executive courses and two outdoor swimming pools, one of which is Olympic size. They also boast their own library, three clubhouses, and the largest covered shuffleboard court in Florida. Lots for the old folks to do.

Norma Jean and her other early-morning lap swimmer, Midge, are engaged in their daily meditation. Nobody talks or chats until the laps are done. Midge is 80 and has been swimming for her entire life. Norma Jean started swimming after her joints deteriorated from the pounding caused by years of running. After the swim, the residents have this lovely hot tub to soak their aches and pains away. (Okay, maybe not away, but it sure feels good. I swam with NJ yesterday, soaked in the tub, and plan to join her again tomorrow.)

The other thing the residents have in common here are a lot of widows and widowers, since so many of the people here are, well, old. Many are quite fit and work hard at maintaining their activity level. Being here in the winter, though, I see why the year-rounders have trouble with the snowbirds: the population of Zephyrhills triples and traffic everywhere is exponentially increased. Everywhere we go the lines are long, and the sound of Maine accents and Canadian brogues is ubiquitous. It's interesting for me to consider how many of these people must have residences in two places and the subsequent costs incurred in maintaining two separate homes.

While I walked around the grounds taking pictures this morning, I met a very nice couple, Vera and Don, who were out for a walk, her with a walker, him with a cane, and another friend also with a walker. When I took her picture, Vera kicked the walker out of the way, since she is recovering from a broken ankle and doesn't really need it. They told me they came to visit a friend a few years ago and within a couple of days they owned a home here and just love it.

Vera and Don, Betmar snowbirds

The old oak trees with Spanish moss make a nice backdrop to this happy couple out for a walk in the early morning. I went back to the pool and hopped on Norma Jean's golf cart to head back home. Until I came to visit, I had never understood the snowbird phenomenon, and now I do. Although it takes a certain level of income to maintain it, I think if I had the wherewithal I myself would be tempted!
:-)