February 4, 2006
Recently, when I began an online search for information about the migratory habits of snow geese, I got sidetracked by clicking on the word ‘snowbird’ instead of snow geese.
Since I grew up near a national game refuge, I knew a lot about wintering snow geese, but I knew nothing about ‘snowbirds.’
The first time I heard the term ‘snowbird’ I thought it meant snow geese, anyway.
A ‘snowbird’ search, however, quickly told me I was wrong.
Snowbird refers to: seniors who want to migrate to warmer climates, Snowbird Ski Resort in Utah, Snowbird Acres Farm (a horse ranch in New Jersey), or the Canadian Snowbirds (431 Squadron) air show team.
I decided to read the selection about migrating seniors since I was not planning a ski trip or a visit to a horse ranch or an aerial daredevil performance
Before I could read further, one more definition of ‘snowbird’ popped up--Anne Murray’s famous breakthrough hit single of 1969, “Snowbird.”
I still remember some of the words.
If you have a media player, you can sing along.
“Beneath its snowy mantle cold and clean, the unborn grass lies waiting for its coat to turn to green. The snowbird sings the song he always sings, and speaks to me of flowers that will bloom again in spring…Spread your tiny wings and fly away, and take the snow back with you where it came from on that day.”
After humming that song for a bit and enjoying the little trip down memory lane, I resumed the snowbird search.
Snowbirds, according to snowbirdhelper.com (yes, there are numerous snowbird websites), may be any retired person, anyone planning to retire, potential snowbirds, seniors, anyone over 50 who is planning to travel, and anyone who wants to escape winter in the north.
Now, we are getting to the heart of it.
Escape winter in the north, and you are a snowbird!
Since I am now, officially, of ‘snowbird” age, I am paying attention.
Human migratory habits have been around for decades though.
Even Jerry Seinfeld talks a lot about snowbirds in his monologues.
He once quipped, “My folks just moved to Florida this year, but they didn’t want to move to Florida. But they’re in their sixties and that’s the law.”
Still, you do not have to move to Florida to qualify as a snowbird. Any southern or western state will do just fine.
Even Las Vegas is experiencing unprecedented growth as the over 50 crowd flocks to the desert playground where affordable condos abound.
Demographic experts tell us that people from Northern or Midwestern states, as well as many Canadians, typically migrate south to Florida, Texas or Arizona between late December and the end of March.
We all know this, and we understand why.
The sun shines there, every day!
Fresh citrus fruit is plentiful.
No ice or snow.
No dangerous roads.
Warm temperatures soothe arthritis pain.
One does not have to be a goose to figure this out.
Dearest Boomers, you will need to know, nevertheless, that there are services designed solely to simplify ‘snowbirding’ for any potentially migratory human beings.
These services will make your winter-escape dreams come true by helping with banking needs, setting up bill-paying services while you are away, arranging travel and accommodations, and getting you online in your new location.
Once online, you can email those back home that are still shoveling snow and, then, gloat a bit. It is OK.
It could be the law.
Wikipedia, a free online dictionary, defines ‘snowbirds’ as “retirees who can afford to be away from home for long periods of time or have a second home in a warmer location.”
Seasonal human migration!
We are no different than the geese!
Snowbirds. Snow geese.
Like I was saying, no difference.
