What To Do Before You Go

In Search of the Sun    By Alan Lidstone

For many RVers, enjoying the fall season is also the time to start considering their annual “snowbird” trek south to avoid winter. The snowbird season starts after Thanksgiving and ends in April. About half of snowbirds wait until after New Years’ to begin the southward trek.

Who Are Snowbirds?

Snowbirding is popular with RVers who are retired or nearing retirement. Many RVers use this time to consider full-timing. Independently-employed RVers look to snowbirding as an opportunity to escape winter and investigate new places to visit or live. Some opt to work while on their snowbird retreat, helping to make their seasonal escape more affordable.

Where Snowbirds Flock

Where snowbirds go usually depends on where they are coming from. Since east-west travel can be very iffy in the winter, most RVers tend to head due south and keep driving until the weather looks good (and warm). It’s important to select your location as early as possible because RV resorts and campgrounds start making reservations for the snowbird season in August.

Popular destinations for wintering RVers in western portions of the country include southern California, Arizona and Texas. RVers in the central part of the U.S. are only a two-to-three day drive to the warm waters, sun, sand and golf courses that wrap around the coastal waters along the Gulf of Mexico from South Padre Island, Texas, across Louisiana, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, and down the west coast of Florida to Key West.

East coast RVers enjoy the many attractions and great weather as they head for the coastline stretching from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina through coastal Georgia and down the east coast of Florida to Key West.

Florida: Snowbird Central

Florida receives more snowbirds than any other locale, most likely based on more than 1400 miles of coastline on the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, and the Interstate  system that efficiently feeds traffic from the eastern half of the U.S. and Canada into the land of sun, beaches, lakes, golf courses, tennis courts and palm trees. Having more than 700 RV resorts and campgrounds, tourist attractions, and multiple Camping World locations to meet all types of RV service and equipment needs are also a big plus.

If you find yourself with the opportunity to flee winter’s cold by heading south for the winter, here are some tips to help you get started.

Stay Flexible

Flexibility in your schedule can be helpful because snowbird stays vary from several weeks to several months. Some prefer one location for the season, and others enjoy the opportunity to try out several locales.

Work While You Play
Work-camper opportunities at RV resorts, campgrounds, state and national parks can significantly reduce snowbirding expenses.  Start looking as early as possible to find RV resorts and campgrounds in your geographic areas of interest that might need seasonal help.

Pack for Changing Weather
Even though you’re headed for fun in the sun, don’t forget to travel with cold-weather clothing such as sweaters, jackets and hats. You’ll need them for the trip south, and may also need them for cold snaps at your snowbird destination. Depending on when you plan to head north again, you may also need warmer clothes for the return trip.

Plan Your Stops En Route
Determine your layover stops for the trip south. Many RV resorts and campgrounds close after Columbus Day. Your campground directory will help you find RV resorts and campgrounds that are open all-year round. Depending on your route, you may have to overnight at a truck stop or commercial parking lot.

Get the RV Ready
Having all your RV service up to date is important because most snowbirds will be driving a thousand miles or more. Depending on where you are coming from, you may have to leave with RV antifreeze in your fresh water tank and carry lots of windshield de-icing fluid. Start with empty holding tanks because your first one or two nights may be on sites with no sewage hookups or dumping available. Keep fuel tanks and propane tanks as full as possible in case of delays where you have to provide your own heat and power.

Mind the Weather
Allow extra time in your travel schedule for weather-related travel problems. Travel with an emergency radio with NOAA weather channels and a wireless mobile phone that provides local weather. RVs do not mix well with snow or ice. Be prepared for a delay and seek a safe location immediately if the weather along your route is deteriorating. Almost all RV resorts and campgrounds will be glad to accommodate changes in arrival dates due to weather delays.
 
Get the House Ready
Being away for several months may require canceling newspaper delivery, garbage pickup and pest control services. Return library books; reduce or drop service for satellite and/or cable TV not needed while away; provide for indoor plants. Dispose of garbage and yard waste if you leave before scheduled pickup.

Make arrangements for someone to periodically check the interior and exterior of your home while you are away (especially in case of bad weather or power outages). Notify law enforcement authorities and your alarm or security company that the home will be vacant, how they can reach you, and a designated person to contact in the event of an emergency.

Discuss procedures with your house checker regarding emergency repairs, especially if they may not be able to reach you quickly. Don’t forget to provide your house checker with the name and phone number of your alarm company as well as the security code and ID if you have a security system wired to the telephone system.

Turn off the water supply for the house. Leave the other utilities on for heating and any inspections, repairs or cleaning done while you’re away, and arrange for snow removal. Leave the furnace on and set the thermostat to at least 55° F. Having a neighbor park a car in your driveway from time to time helps make the house look occupied.

Set timers for lighting circuits and table radios (power outages change the start and stop times), and turn the hot water heater off. Empty the refrigerator and set it to the warmest setting. Unplug all appliances subject to damage from power surges (computers, stereos, radios, microwave ovens, etc.).

Lock all windows and partially close all blinds, shades, curtains and drapes so that others can’t see in but interior lights show from the outside at night. Secure locking bars on all sliding doors and French doors to keep them from being forced open. Unplug or disengage your automatic garage door openers to prevent operation by remote or switch. Your house checker can use a key to enter the house.

Housekeeping Essentials
Since you will be away for several months, consider the best ways to pay bills, collect mail and keep in touch with friends and family back home.

Most banks offer free automatic deposit of incoming checks and online bill payment via the Internet (eliminating checks and stamps). Online bill payment can also provide automatic notification of receipt and payment of many incoming bills. This is the method of choice for most RVers who travel with a notebook computer.

Mail can be picked up by a friend or neighbor, held or forwarded. RVers staying at a limited number of locations will find U.S. Post Office mail forwarding both convenient and free. RVers with multiple destinations or a flexible itinerary may opt for the commercial mail forwarding services that hold your mail until you contact them, provide a delivery address and send it to you via overnight delivery. President’s Club members can use the mail forwarding service included as one of their many benefits (see page xx for details).

Keeping in touch is easy using your mobile wireless phone or a notebook computer for e-mail and easy access to the Internet (select destinations with WiFi Internet access). Carry an inexpensive pre-paid long distance calling Card (5 cents/minute or less for use with pay phones when mobile service is unavailable) and a book of stamps for postcards.

Finally, lock all doors and activate the alarm or security system, and don’t forget the sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, phone chargers, checkbook and credit cards. Point the nose of your rig southward, and go in search of the sun.

Alan Lidstone is a freelance author and writer living in southwest Florida.

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