tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post1827786035863526798..comments2024-03-15T00:27:48.794-07:00Comments on Retire In Style Blog Too: Snowbird Questions: Why Would You Ever Do That?Barbara Torrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09618291241661047482noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-37311457705361290882015-11-20T12:16:54.410-08:002015-11-20T12:16:54.410-08:00Mike,I understand how you feel. The devil is in th...Mike,<br><br>I understand how you feel. The devil is in the details isn't it? <br><br>As a quick answer to all your concerns I need to tell you that you will "put your house to sleep" in the north so most of the costs you are concerned about are balanced out when you turn your furnace down at home, disconnect water and put TV, Internet on vacation with your server.<br><br>Turning your water off is not always about economy but we have discovered (the hard way) water can do a lot of damage particularly if no one is checking on your house on a daily basis.<br><br>Here we do not pay for water or garbage disposal. We take our Direct TV boxes with us so the cost remains the same. We don't disconnect in Oregon and don't pay for a separate location or any connection fees. We have antennas in both places.<br><br>Our Internet service is about $70 per month but that is entirely up to you. There is free internet in the park near the office. If you require a faster speed, that is available through Cox. We use Cox. <br><br>Heating and hook up for our washer and drier average out less $70. It may even be less than that. It depends on the weather. Some winters are very warm. We seldom use our air conditioner. <br><br>When you leave in the spring you can disconnect your electricity if you like. There will still be a small fee but it reduced to very little. You can put your TV and Internet on snowbird vacation. They understand that sort of thing in areas like ours. Or you can have them disconnected and reconnect the next year. We decided that it was less expensive to disconnect.<br><br>As for the $150 a month, you need to remember that you are only going to be here part of the year so don't add $150 for the whole year. I am sure you were not doing that but just in case...<br><br>If you have anymore questions feel free to ask. I do have time on my hands occasionally. 😉<br><br>Take care.<br>Barbara Torrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05114209481329773753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-83739630647706163132015-11-18T09:51:49.511-08:002015-11-18T09:51:49.511-08:00One more question, if you don't mind. Above th...One more question, if you don't mind. Above the park rent, is it around $150/month extra for utilities and cable/wifi? Still trying to figure it out. Thanks.mike casadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01584586834046015854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-79231193436901953862015-11-17T10:11:23.444-08:002015-11-17T10:11:23.444-08:00Tom, I agree...I cannot believe that we have this ...Tom, I agree...I cannot believe that we have this wonderful life. It is amazing. <br><br>As for leaving your home for the winter it is not that hard. One place goes to sleep and another wakes up. When we return, nothing as changed and our friends and family are very glad to see us. Absence makes the heart grow fonder they say. :) I might add that we live a very simple life in both places...beautiful but simple. Any obligations we have are short term and do not tie us down.<br><br>(See the "How to be a Snowbird" post in the link under the post.) <br><br>Oh, and we do not worry. We buy insurance for a small price and it covers most problems that might crop up. It is all good.<br><br>b+<br>Barbara Torrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05114209481329773753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-13397638524786745552015-11-17T10:05:46.836-08:002015-11-17T10:05:46.836-08:00It could be. Do your homework and take it slow. Th...It could be. Do your homework and take it slow. The third stage of your life can be the best if you play your cards right.Barbara Torrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05114209481329773753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-21372360458250144402015-11-17T10:04:47.447-08:002015-11-17T10:04:47.447-08:00Mike, we live in Tucson Arizona and rent in a smal...Mike, we live in Tucson Arizona and rent in a smaller park that is part of a bigger park across town. The park is call Rincon Country RV Resort East. It is a lovely park and being upgraded all the time. You can find them online. I think we are very lucky.Barbara Torrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05114209481329773753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-17633646282489318412015-11-17T07:12:56.158-08:002015-11-17T07:12:56.158-08:00Tom. You are so right. With all the turmoil going ...Tom. You are so right. With all the turmoil going on in the world, we are SO fortunate to even think about being a snowbird! We are extremely blessed. mike casadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01584586834046015854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-5887395012451496242015-11-17T07:05:44.221-08:002015-11-17T07:05:44.221-08:00Every few weeks the topic comes up for us -- shoul...Every few weeks the topic comes up for us -- should be buy a condo in the south, probably someplace like Florida or the Carolinas? What keeps stopping us is not so much the cost, but the responsibility. What's happening down there while we're back home for six or eight months? Plus, we have a life where we live now. If we were gone for six months, we feel it would really disrupt our friendships and our activities. So we continue to go south for a few weeks and rent and pay exorbitant prices ... but still probably less than the cost of ownership, and without the worry. But ... I can see how if you're going to stay for six months, it makes a lot more sense. And I keep thinking, as retirees, these questions are good ones to have compared to the problems that lot of people face.Tom Sightingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08611148987085476580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-73630105070423322042015-11-16T17:46:01.531-08:002015-11-16T17:46:01.531-08:00it all sounds like a great lifestyle and I totally...it all sounds like a great lifestyle and I totally agree that sometimes you need to stop thinking and just jump in and see if it's worthwhile. I bet early retirement would be the ideal time to take on something like this while there is still a good cash flow and you can enjoy all the amenties.Leannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05623420015695351280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306252283429139894.post-61104705388878686312015-11-16T17:10:58.277-08:002015-11-16T17:10:58.277-08:00There are so many park model parks in Arizona. How...There are so many park model parks in Arizona. How in the world did you pick one with reasonable rent?$390 isn't bad....ones we've looked at have been around $600, which are including utilities and cable. If you averaged about $390 for lot rent, would $600 be what you'd pay with all the extras?mike casadyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01584586834046015854noreply@blogger.com