Snow birds have arrived!

[stevemc]

The snow birds are here, millions of them! It was like a switch was flipped yesterday, millions of out of towners, slow drivers and obvious "I'm not from around here" folks hit Sarasota, and I am sure the whole state of Florida. Used to be Thanksgiving was the day they would arrive, but as soon as that last cold front dumped snow on their yards, they took off, and headed here. Hopefully they brought lots of jewelry!

 

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[Buried Crap NJ]

What if they all brought their detectors instead

 

[Sandman]

Snow birds are nice but mainly stay on dry land or at least dry sand. But they are not real active which loses jewelry.

 

[stpauli914]

I thought it was just me I agree they are migrating earlier and earlier every year

Aaron

 

[dewcon4414]

I was up at Siesta Keys Sat, because of the big sand show you couldnt move on the road.... it was a long run back to home for me..... without gold in my pocket i might add. Traffic is a bear thou.... some drive slow, others aggressive, and the others .... well just just plain dont pay attention to your driving or theirs. Hope everyones insurance is paid up. I dont mind them bringing the detector as long as they stay in the closet like they did up North. With all that bling and no one loosing it i may have to put the detector away and take up the new hobby in the hood..... mugging

Dew

 

[stevemc]

Yep, I was out on Siesta too, and I forgot about the sand sculpture thing. I went by the beach parking lot early, yesterday, and it was full. Hadnt seen that so early, but I thought well its Saturday. Then I came back about 2 PM and it was really jammed up. Streets were mobbed, even out on the hiway. From that time out, it was real bad everywhere. Even the evening, we went out to eat since I was kind of bushed, and it was jammed up too in the restuarant. Years ago, US 41 would be kind of vacant until Thanksgiving, then it would get busy. Then more would come down and more would stay, and now you can hardly tell the difference. But now they are here. And yes, most of them arent swimming or playing on the beach. Unfortunatly!

 

[baywalker]

O you have to love them it's how I make A living , taking them fishing , I have lived in Sarasota 58 years as we have always said " you hate to see them come and you hate to see them go"

Jonnie

 

[stevemc]

Baywalker, I have lived here to for a while, first in Venice for 25+ years, now Sarasota for 25+ years. I know a bunch of Sarasota Guides, are you Jonnie Walker? If so, I used to fish at the Venice Jetties, and knew Johny and Vera very well. I would catch pinfish and trade for a freshly smoked shrimp right out of the smoker many times. I used to go out on the Miss Judy, many times. I would spend my elementary years summers on that jetty fishing, riding my bike with my rod and bait bucket, staying out all day, and riding home with a bucket of fish. Snagging mullet when they were so thick, that was all you could see, except for the snook and tarpon busting up underneath them. Surfing when it was too rough to fish or dive. Jumping off the rope swing on Snake Island. Camping out there, catching snook and shrimp under the lights right across, and cooking them up under the stars. That was a great place. Good old days! Sure has changed. So has Sarasota.

 

[Silver Surfer]

I also noticed them arriving unusually early around here.... Wasn't even cold up north when they started arriving in droves.
Funny, the news has been hammering how bad retiree's have been hit in the markets, but now I think it is hype. How can you be losing all your retirement, yet maintain two homes and bounce between the two? Even when my wife and I are both working, I don't think we could afford to live that lifestyle.. When the snowbirds quit showing up, I'll know it is bad.

 

[baywalker]

Stevemc yep that is me ,I miss the jetties to dad passed A few years ago mom is still doing good at 92 lives right behind me in Sarasota. Give me A call some time we can go swinging some time . some how that doesn't sound right

Jonnie

 

[stevemc]

I will do that.

 

[Killer Angel]

Funny, the news has been hammering how bad retiree's have been hit in the markets, but now I think it is hype. How can you be losing all your retirement, yet maintain two homes and bounce between the two? Even when my wife and I are both working, I don't think we could afford to live that lifestyle.. When the snowbirds quit showing up, I'll know it is bad.

It's not hype. The economy has hit retirees hard. Most are in a different asset class from the folks you are seeing. The folks who maintain two homes are wealthy and are less affected by the economy. The best example is Warren Buffett. Warren is rich. If Warren loses 5 billion dollars he's still rich. Same with the retired machine tools company owner from Kansas City who comes to his second home in Naples every winter. He use to be worth 30 million. Now he's worth 25 million. Is he happy about that? Nope! is it going to stop him from coming to FL? Nope!

That said, even someone with a million dollar net worth could maintain a two home lifestyle.

How to get where these folks are? Pay yourself first with every paychk!!! Cash is king!!!!

 

[mrcolin2u]

The snow birds are here, millions of them! It was like a switch was flipped yesterday, millions of out of towners, slow drivers and obvious "I'm not from around here" folks hit Sarasota, and I am sure the whole state of Florida. Used to be Thanksgiving was the day they would arrive, but as soon as that last cold front dumped snow on their yards, they took off, and headed here. Hopefully they brought lots of jewelry!

Must be this global cooling?