The life of a Snowbird?

[ShaKen]

Hi all

I’m doing some forward planning regarding retirement and thinking about what I’ll do when I hang up the suit and shutdown the works’ laptop.

There’s plenty of things for me to do at home but I would like to spend a lot of time in the warmer climes rather than spending the winter in a very damp and grey Scotland.

But what will I do when I get myself to southern France / Spain / Italy / Greece?

I’d welcome if anyone on this forum could share the “Day in the Life” of the Snowbird.

Is it nice walks, long lunches and good books or is there something else to look forward to?

All input, positive and negative, is welcome.

Thanks in advance Funsters!

 

[bigtwin]

You need to change your mindset; it’ll come with time!

When my Mrs asked me what I was doing, I replied “Nothing, and I’m not finished yet!”.

Ian

 

[romany]

it sounds a bit pat but honestly where ever you go life is what you want it to be someone once told me the only thing that stops you living is the fear of life, and one thing is certain when I was in intensive care i didn't lay there thinking of things I shouldn't of done I lay there wishing i had done everything i wanted sooner.
So go where ever you want and enjoy it have fun and have no regrets

 

[hilldweller]

There’s plenty of things for me to do at home

It is a real problem and hinges on what "plenty of things" are.

I'm happiest holding a soldering iron or riding my bike, neither of which I can take away. So boredom is on offer.

It also depends where you camp. I love Benidorm because there is a lot going on and to look at but I'd curl up and die if I stayed weeks in the wilderness.

The Rhein is great, always something sailing past to look at but not a winter destination.

The biggest danger is alcohol. You can be bored and never more than a couple of metres from cheap booze.

 

[Badknee]

We live the winter months in a small Spanish village on the Med. The beach is 20mtrs away an there’s only one small Brit bar in the place thankfully.

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[buttons]

It is a real problem and hinges on what "plenty of things" are.

I'm happiest holding a soldering iron or riding my bike, neither of which I can take away. So boredom is on offer.

It also depends where you camp. I love Benidorm because there is a lot going on and to look at but I'd curl up and die if I stayed weeks in the wilderness.

The Rhein is great, always something sailing past to look at but not a winter destination.

The biggest danger is alcohol. You can be bored and never more than a couple of metres from cheap booze.

I look at all the harmony portrayed in the long term Benidorm campers photographs. Sitting around always accompanied by bottles and glasses. I sometimes wonder if this unity and understanding is ever present. Human nature being what it is, it cant be surely....

 

[hilldweller]

I look at all the harmony portrayed in the long term Benidorm campers photographs.

You'd better believe it. They are at one with oneanother, a big happy family. Be careful how you judge the bottles, they make a bottle last weeks and weeks, you have to carefully examine the level in the bottle in each picture. Soon the bottles are cleared to make way for the tea urn.

 

[Scotch mist]

ShaKen said There’s plenty of things for me to do at home but I would like to spend a lot of time in the warmer climes rather than spending the winter in a very damp and grey Scotland.


The problem I’m finding there is so many things to Finnish in the house , I’m struggling to get to warmer climates , managed the month of September 2019 in Belgium/ Luxembourg / Germany & France and going back to France for the month of June ,
after sampling Europe, scotland‘s bad attitude towards motorhomes holds little attraction now , looking forward to sampling Spain for a few months

 

[buttons]

You'd better believe it. They are at one with oneanother, a big happy family. Be careful how you judge the bottles, they make a bottle last weeks and weeks, you have to carefully examine the level in the bottle in each picture. Soon the bottles are cleared to make way for the tea urn.

Can you believe this, I am now sifting through the Snowbird pictures looking very closely at the props.

 

[Reallyretired]

The important thing in retirement is by that time of life you know what you enjoy. As a very introverted person I have spent much of my life being encouraged by more extrovert persons to 'enjoy myself' by doing things and being places I hate like parties and crowds. Now older and I hope wiser I can ignore this sort of thing and do what I like best.
Needless to say, being with the Benidorm gang would be torture to me, but each to their own.

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[Jenowen]

We’ve been retired for 7 years, and have managed to make several ‘winter sun’ trips away in our van.
We find that rather than doing different things, quite often we’re just doing the same things in different places!! We walk, run, swim, read, eat out etc and really enjoy the different venues and environments. Add learning new languages and meeting fellow campers to the mix and you have pretty full days. And the chance of better weather also helps.

 

[jumartoo]

We’ve been retired for 7 years, and have managed to make several ‘winter sun’ trips away in our van.
We find that rather than doing different things, quite often we’re just doing the same things in different places!! We walk, run, swim, read, eat out etc and really enjoy the different venues and environments. Add learning new languages and meeting fellow campers to the mix and you have pretty full days. And the chance of better weather also helps.

I was just about to write something similar.

Just think about what you would do on a typical (nice) summer day in the UK and it's all available in the winter.

If you go hiking, biking, swimming, fishing (even skiing) it's all there to be done.

If you just like to just sit and read and people watch, that's doable also.

You may find time to take up things you've not tried before. Crafting, photography, nature watching etc. It's all waiting for you.

 

[simsy56]

We spent some time in Estepona, and joined the sports centre mainly for the swimming pool. We walked for miles 'discovering' the town and it's surroundings. The orchid centre is lovely, the artwork on some of the buildings is spectacular! Exploring all and sundry.
Strolling along the prom, having nice food out as well as eating at the MoHo. Having a cold beer at a chiringuito, watching the boats come and go, cycling, trying different cuisine. Just being outside in the sunshine is a tonic in itself.

Craig

 

[Odd-no-more]

This is the life we wanted in retirement but family circumstances have stopped us going away very far, so stuck in the south of the uk. Fine in summer but not so good in winter

 

[138go]

We use our motorhome for long trips and short trips. We always go to Northumberland in January. We’re off to Norfolk shortly and The New Forest in April. We always go to places where there is plenty to do, in the colder months. For example, when we go to Northumberland, the site has beautiful leisure facilities.

We also go to France and Spain for longer trips. The 90 day rules will be a consideration in future. When you have a motorhome, you are never short of something to do!

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