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 Most
retirees dream about how and where they will spend their golden
years, whether packing up and moving across the country to a warmer,
year-round location or keeping their current home and living
somewhere else for a few months. Some will opt to drive an RV, pull
a camper, drive a car, or fly to their destination. For the latter,
the term “Snowbirds” is an immensely popular ‘best of both worlds’
option.
If snowbirding is a goal you are hoping to achieve during your
retirement, there are several things to keep in mind. One of the
first suggestions most say is to start out SLOW! Many start out big
and buy a large RV/Camper/Trailer and a matching vehicle to pull it.
Then they need to furnish it with all kinds of matching gadgets and
camping equipment. Then they realize that this dream is too
expensive, too long, a hassle or too far away from kids, grandkids,
ailing parents, or friends.
Before taking your retirement funds and dumping into something that
will depreciate greatly, start out and test the waters. Try renting
a camper or RV for an extended period of time. Or contact a local
real estate agent in your desired location for a short-term rental
home. Another aspect you should consider is driving. Who will be
comfortable enough to drive a 13-45 ft vehicle through mountains, in
a parking lot, backing up, through a construction zone or in tight
space? This aspect needs to be defined prior to and can cause
unwanted stress between spouses. If the driver does not have the
experience, knowledge or has not practiced enough to gain that
comfortability in maneuvering a recreational vehicle, then that
could add additional travel time, cause vehicle damage and/or
accidents.
Most retirees already have certain destinations in mind and more
than likely have already visited that area. If you think you want to
be in Arizona or New Mexico, it would be wise to visit these places
first-hand. Just because they are in the southwest, the locations
can be vastly different. For example, Yuma, AZ, gets 3.5 inches of
rain per year. Approximately 4 ½ hours north in Flagstaff the
average is 20.7 inches of rain and 81 inches of snow per year.
Therefore Yuma is dry and brown, and Flagstaff is very green and
luscious. If you have a camper trailer, it would be easy to pack up
and move to a different camping site that suits your needs or
scenery, however, if you rent a place, it could be an exceptionally
long and boring 3-6 months.
If you have done your homework on your desired location(s), then
what’s next? A good starting point is to talk to others who have
“been there done that.” They can be your best resources on things
that they did, didn’t do, forgot to do, or wished they had done. Of
course, you may not fall into every category, but it’s good to get
input, suggestions and directions from others that live this type of
lifestyle. If you do not have any close resources, there are
thousands of articles and groups on-line and books at your local
library, senior center, or thrift store.
Say you have your truck/trailer, the map circled on
your desired location, or the gas tank filled, or the plane ticket
is in hand, what’s next? You can’t just hop in the car or on the
plane and take off, there are a few more things that you need to do
to ensure you have a home to come back to. Here is a general list to
get you thinking about your particular home and how to set yourself
up for a more enjoyable time away.
• Investing a few hundred dollars in a camera system that is
controlled by your cell phone might be a good idea. This will allow
you to see who is ringing the doorbell, who is coming in your back
door and if any unknown packages are left. There are many options
out there that will allow you to monitor your home without any
monthly fees and is worth the peace of mind, whether you are gone
for an extended period of time or just out for dinner.
• Stop your mail and any newspapers, arrange to have someone pick
them up daily, or have it forwarded to your temporary location.
• Store all your outside patio furniture inside a shed or house.
• Invest in a timer that will turn your inside and outside house
lights on and off and regulate the temperature in the house. This
will detract any curious visitors.
• Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are operational. If
you have a camera system that alerts your phone, you will be able to
call for additional help even while away.
• Unplug all devices such as TVs, counter
appliances, and computers, empty out and disconnect your washer and
dryer, and have a surge protector on all items that must remain
plugged in.
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• Turn off your water to the house. The last thing
you want to worry about is a broken pipe while you are away. Set
your water heater to vacation mode or a lower setting to conserve
energy.
• Call your trash company to make arrangements, stop
service (check fees), or have a neighbor/relative use the trash can
to put out as to appear status quo.
• Call your gas company and inquire about turning off gas to your
house. This may not be an option if your furnace is gas. Make sure
you shut off and disconnect all your propane tanks to grills and
outside equipment.
• Clean out your gutters, chimney, and trim any branches hanging
over the house if applicable. This will help prevent water damage,
roof damage, to avoid pests and potential fire hazards in your
house.
• Make sure all your doors and windows are completely
closed and locked.
• Make sure you seal up all openings to prevent unwelcome pests.
• Call your doctor's offices and make sure you all are up to date on
your appointments, med checks, and testing.
• Talk to your pharmacy about your medicines. You can use a mail
service (may have delays), get enough of a supply to cover your
trip, or get established with a national chain to get your monthly
supply filled.
• Arrange all bills by autopay, for easier monitoring and so a
payment is not missed.
• Call your bank and credit card companies to let them know that you
will be at such-in-such place on these dates so that you do not get
shut off.
• Make sure you have all your important documents either with you or
in a safe or in a bank deposit box. Keep copies of all things in
multiple secure places.
• Alert your local police department that your home will be
unoccupied. This will allow them to keep an occasional eye on your
property. This could result in a small fee, so make sure you inquire
as to if there are any costs involved.
• If you have a trusted neighbor or relative ask them to stop by and
check the house every so often, especially if there has been a
recent storm. You will want to make sure power is still on,
especially to your sump pump, furnace, or freezers. You may need
this person to water your plants or take them to someone to babysit
while you are gone.
• Dishonest-preying people are everywhere, especially on social
media. By all means….DO NOT post that you are gone, going, a
snowbird, looking forward to your trip or time away, or pictures of
your current location while away. That is a sure sign that it is
more than likely your house is or will be unoccupied.
• Clean your house before you leave, dust, vacuum, put on clean
sheets, and clean out the frig and garbage disposal. It will make
coming home much more enjoyable.
We all hope to have many, many, many years in retirement and one of
the best ways to keep active is to explore other cultures, areas and
make new friends. Preparation is the best and most rewarding key to
any good plan, so for those that desire this type of lifestyle,
enjoy, relax and roll on!!
[JA Hodgdon-Ruppel]
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