Downsizing in Retirement? But where?

Downsizing was on everyone's mind. The stress people endure just because of a lifetime of clutter they have accumulated added to the retirement dilemma and limited income and you have the perfect reasons for wanting to live in something much smaller.

Park Model in RV Resort

Once the decision has been made to move the question is where? People as asking themselves Should we sell our house here in the north and buy something smaller for much less in a warmer climate? It has occurred to me that we might need to rethink what we are doing.

It is a temptation to sell here in Portland, Oregon, for example, because a person can buy something in the Southwest USA for less and have disposable income left over to have MORE fun right now. When the weather is warm in the winter that person will be at home while all those snow birds are living in small resorts. Sound about right doesn't it?

RV Resort Bocci Ball Tournament

Then summer comes...it gets very hot in the southwest in the summer. Those people want to do the snowbird thing in reverse and fly north to find some cooler weather. BUT, it is very expensive and there is really not that much available in the way of short term rentals for vacationing people. A hotel or motel is not affordable at all. Most people spend a very short period of time in the north. Better than nothing I suppose.

Snowbird Friends

It might be that downsizing to a smaller place in some location that is perfect in the summer would be smarter. When you came back north you would be at home and probably near your families and friends. The spend less on your winter location. The southwest is ripe for the picking when it comes to snowbird living. There is so much available at a reasonable price, especially in RV resorts. Even purchasing a small park model like we own is possible for less than $20,000. You will have a more fun than you ever imagined but not be tied to so much responsibility.

It is just a thought. Downsize at home in the north and snow birding small in the southwest has been our choice and I am so grateful that we have decided to do that. We live in a place that those coming north could not afford to visit for very long. Life is good!

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Note: I happen to think that Idaho has some of the best locations for downsizing. Check out McCall for your small home in the north. It is gorgeous.

 Summer

Snowbird: How do I find a place to rent?

I received this question yesterday from a reader: 

It's wonderful to hear of other single travelers out there. How do you go about finding places to rent in different areas? 

Boy can I relate to this! I remember feeling like a babe in the woods when we first started out. My husband and I traveled across the county in a small class c motor home. We stayed in trailer parks, and RV resorts. In those days we carried a Good Sam Directory and depended on our very new cell phone to make reservations as we went along. I always dreamed of finding a 10-10-10 rated park. The rating assures quality, service and location. I was never disappointed. On that trip we only found one on our route. It was right here in Tucson.

A CROWD GATHERS...NO MATTER WHAT WE DO!

If you are thinking that a resort like the one we spend the winters in would work, I think the RV directories are a good place to start. Woodalls, CampUSA, Good Sam Club are well known and reputable. Amazon has a large selection available.You can, for example, go to Tucson in a directory, see what the resorts are and how they are rated. You can do the very same things for areas in Texas, Florida or any other state. Then you call the park and see if they have park models for rent. Most of the resorts do that very thing.

You have to understand that the reason I recommend an RV resort is because you will be immersed in the social life of the park immediately.  If I were single, that would be very important to me.

However, if you are not interested in something like this, you can find rental agencies that do nothing but rent to snowbirds. Here in Tucson we have an agency called Home Away that might work. Put snowbird rentals or RV resorts in (city of your choice) in the google search line and begin shopping.

I hope this has been helpful.  Any other questions?

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List of post on How to be a Snowbird here.