It is not a new species! I’m talking about the hundreds nay thousands of people that live in Arizona from November until May each year. Returning to their native states just when the temperatures start to rise, we call them “Snow Birds”.
Florida and other warm winter weather states have them too I’m sure. What always strikes me as the years roll around is just how many people are Snow Birds. You will actually feel the rise in population. The grocery stores are busier. No parking spaces near the door. Doctor’s appointments are harder to come by. Traffic is much heavier, and you totally understand it.
A running joke on social media on the first day of fall post a picture of various state license plates and the caption reads ” you can always tell the change of seasons in Arizona by the changing of license plates”. People return from everywhere! Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Alberta Canada, Pennsylvania, Illinois and everywhere in between.
If you were faced with dropping temps, snow, sleet, rain, ice; well, wouldn’t you leave for warmer climates too? On the average, Arizona has around 299 sunny days per year. Snow fall in the Phoenix metro area is zero and rainfall is only slightly more than that. The thought of going outside every day all fall, winter, and spring with no coat and maybe a sweater sounds pretty good right? So, lots of people make the trek to sunny Phoenix Arizona.
As a year-round resident, you might want to change your plan of attack. Make a doctor’s appointment when you first think of it or if possible, schedule it from May to late October. Go to the stores a little earlier. Of course, you don’t have to change, as long as you know what could be in store for you!
I sometimes wonder how the year-round residents feel about the Snow Bird Phenomena. I’ve yet to summon the courage to ask but if you listen closely – yes, I mean eavesdrop – to conversations around you, you will sometimes hear a little complaining. But as my hubby always reminds me, they contribute an awful lot to our economy and for that, I am grateful.
Partially #transplanted – that’s what they are!