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RE: Where do you winter in Arizona?and why
I stay away from bigger towns, Texas & big rv parks with park models! Am I the only AZ snowbird who hunts quail?
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Dave T
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11/16/08 10:29am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowbird vs. enconomy?
Since I have been coming to AZ for the last 6 years, it has always been cheaper to get here. The price of fuel has always been higher & climbing in the spring. I don't think we will see a big increase in the price this coming spring. It will go up no doubt. Fuel doesn't peak until mid summer. Now there could be other things to worry about on this economy. But why? Head down here to AZ & enjoy!
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Dave T
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11/11/08 06:39am |
Snowbirds
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RE: MN Weather Report
90 here in AZ. Tombstone Territories Rv Park about 10 miles from Tombstone. Rain ended my pheasant hunting in southwest MN on Tues. . We drove in rain on Wed & with a stop south of Omaha, more rain. I finally drove out of rain in mid Kansas. From there on the temp went up, along with the price of gas! $2.22 at Great Bend , KS to $3.38 at the highest place here. But you can steal it for $2.90 at Benson.
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Dave T
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10/26/08 04:41pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Cold feet....in slow motion....
Andrea,
I hear you! I have had your same feelings for over going 3 years now. This isn't right forum for policital views. So I will try hard not to go that way. In 2005 we sold our house for a good price & built new. We should be happy but something just didn't seem right! Meanwhile a Canadian in the park I was wintering in, was telling other Canadians to get into precious medals. No one listen to him & gold went up $500 a ounce. Meanwhile I've got the gut feeling something is not right here in the land of plenty! You can't get answers here without being political bias! So I had a talk with my Canadian friend who would not be bias in our political system. He gave me a book to read & a Scottsdale,AZ radio station to listen to. He told me to take whatever I wanted out of either. Needless to say, what I heard over 2 years ago is fact today! But it took the fun out of snow birding, thinking about the bad things that MAY happen! This is what you are feeling but we are along for the ride. So in just over a week I'm heading for AZ to try to have a fun time & you head for Texas have a fun time.
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Dave T
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10/10/08 08:13am |
Snowbirds
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Thinking about winter.
Here we are In August already! The price of gas has been coming down! It should stay down( but not as low as last winter) until after the elections & the usual climb up after the first of year. Anyway, my thoughts are about heading out in late OCT. for the southwest. No reservations but it could be a close repeat of last winter. Don't look for me in Texas or Forida. Nothing wrong with either, just not me.
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Dave T
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08/08/08 07:42pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Wintering in N.M.?
"That decision may be influenced by more than a flip of the coin and a dislike for aggressive drivers. "
Dislike for aggressive drivers, in short "Stay away from Phoenix!!"
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Dave T
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08/03/08 09:45am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Wintering in N.M.?
I'm not a lover of hot temps, so NM is all right for me! I have stayed in Elephant Butte a few times for at least a month or 2. Cedar Cove RV park, clean nice park. I would spend the winter but boredom would be the biggest problem! We spend the rest of the winter in AZ but it isn't much warmer. Around Tombstone.
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Dave T
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08/03/08 06:02am |
Snowbirds
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RE: RV Parks Tuscon - Lordsburg area
I don't think the temperatures will be all that much different around Tucson then in Alamogordo. Not much in Lordsburg in the way of anything. Also the rates around Tucson will be higher then in Alamogordo. I stayed at Tombstone Territories near Tombstone for 4 months last winter. The rates aren't that bad & a nice RV only park!
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Dave T
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07/08/08 05:23am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowbirds - what are we going to do about next year??
I wish someone would tell me their theory on making money by going south for the winter?
We generally figure that it costs nothing to go south for the winter.
Cancel newspaper: Monthly savings $20.00/no paper savings 0
Cancel Garbage pickup: Monthly savings $35.00/no garbage pickup savings 0.0
Phone Service on hold: Monthly savings $25.00/retired phoneman savings 0.0
Cancel High Speed internet: Monthly savings $70.00-seasonal rate $35.00
Cancel Cable TV: Monthly savings $35.00/no cable tv or tv savings 0.0
Cancel Snow plow service: Monthly savings $50.00/no snow plow service/have snow blower savings ?
Turn Heat down to 50 degrees: Monthly savings $200.00 not sure on this one but LP to coach savings 0.0
Elect use furnace only: Monthly savings $70.00/don't have savings 0.0
Dental work done in Mexico Monthly savings $120.00 est. dental cost my wife & I $10 year savings 0.0
Cost of gas to get south & return @ $4.00 a gallon $2400
cost of RV park for season-$960 to $2940 or higher depending on where we stay.
Wireless Internet $30 to 35 a month- canceling out that savings on highspeed Internet at home .
Extra electric bill $80 to $110
LP for coach At best a break even
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Total Monthly savings est: MONTHLY SAVINGS $625.00
FUN IN THE SUN & AT THE POOL PRICELESS
Remember the cost of home heating up north will be way up too.
Loss -I can't hunt quail at home until Feb.
Bored-yes
I'm sorry but this doesn't look like a break even for me!
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Dave T
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05/26/08 11:42am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowbirds - what are we going to do about next year??
I've been doing a lot of thinking on this subject lately, as I watch fuel spiraling up out of control. I do have my motor home up for sale but with little hope of selling it! When studing the reasons for the high price of crude oil, the outlook is grim! Remember that it is traded in US dollars & as the dollar goes down in value the price of crude HAS TO GO UP!
So as long as gas stays somewhere around the $4.00 a gallon range, I will head out for the winter making this my last!
I wish someone would tell me their theory on making money by going south for the winter?
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Dave T
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05/26/08 08:30am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Inexpensive Overnight "Roosts" for Snowbirds
I'm not on the path to winter snowbird land but I do have an rv site for use cheap. $5 for 50 amp, water & sewer, wifi may work? Just my own rv spot which I would let fellow snowbirds use. So if you're in the Grand Rapids area this summer & need a spot for the night? Back-in site.
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Dave T
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05/06/08 04:29pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowbirds - what are we going to do about next year??
This is very much a personal decision. Some are having to start paying for their health insurance & other things, so this is very big decision! When I started this snowbird life 7 years ago I knew it would be an expense above & beyond my normal retirement. I knew a motorhome was a bad investment. My thoughts were to be broke in a nursing having done it, then to have money & wish I had! I never dreamed it would get this bad! We are being conditioned! the price of fuel keeps going up & down but never as low as it was!
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Dave T
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05/03/08 02:51pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowing In MN
Not just snowbirds, know they came north to early!
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x244/dst5911/P4260018.jpg height=400 width=600
http://i182.photobucket.com/albums/x244/dst5911/P4260014.jpg height=400 width=600
Pictures resized to fit page
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Dave T
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04/26/08 05:14pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowbirds - what are we going to do about next year??
Going south has always been an extra cost. No cost savings period! If you have a home in the northern parts, you still are maintaining 2 homes. Eating & living is the same no matter where you are! So it is a personal decision as to how much extra you are willing to pay to stay warm! I would a save few thousand dollars by staying home & turning up the thermostat. Do I want to? NO!
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Dave T
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04/24/08 07:57am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Snowbirds - what are we going to do about next year??
I will make up my mind in August! Roughly 600 plus gallons(rough trip)of gas to get down & back. It has always cost more to get home then the trip down. Then there is the added cost of LP.
A person hates to just sit home because how many more winters do we have left? This isn't a dress rehearsal we are going through!
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Dave T
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04/24/08 07:04am |
Snowbirds
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RE: Am I the only one waiting for the snow to go ?
2 days of a good tail wind! Yesterday was overcast & a head wind. Dry roads for the all but the last 18 miles. Then we arrived to 2 FEET on new SNOW!! That's right 2 FEET! Like 24 " of snow! The neighbor had my drive plowed out, so I was able to drive everything into my garage. At least I didn't have to drive in that snow storm!
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Dave T
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04/08/08 12:52pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Problems when I got back home
I am heading for home now. Spending the night in Liberal, KS. Troubles when I get home? How does predicted 8 inches of new snow sound? But a tail wind today, helped me get my best ever gas milage!
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Dave T
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04/05/08 08:11pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Problems when I got back home
Don't know what awaits me at home this year. Last year it was a septic problem! The usual flat tires on the lawn tractor. I don't have any vehicles at home except for the lawn tractor. Batteries are out of everything (lawn tractor & boat) & I charge them before using anyway.
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Dave T
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04/03/08 05:55pm |
Snowbirds
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The wind has blown 20 out of 21 days!
You would think I was in the RGV. Oops again. Not thee RGV, only Elephant Butte, NM. We have had gusts as high 57 mph! Only 30 mph today. Snow or snow at home, I'm on the road Sunday. Not because of the wind but we have appointments at home coming up.
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Dave T
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04/03/08 05:46pm |
Snowbirds
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RE: Am I the only one waiting for the snow to go ?
I'm waiting it out here in New Mexico for another 2 weeks. Over 5 months on the road & I'm bored! I get up a live weather camera everyday to remind myself there still snow on the ground in northern MN! Last year, April 7th was 3 weeks too soon! But the southwest is heating up too much for me! 2 more weeks!
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Dave T
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03/31/08 12:02pm |
Snowbirds
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