Sunday, May 3, 2009

Migrating North


Timeless Beauty, originally uploaded by A Fool in Miami.



As we were driving north last week on I-95 on that scrubby stretch from Jacksonville to Savannah, we started to notice cars laden with luggage and the telltale clothing rod stretching across the backseat. Cadillacs, SUVs, RVs and even a Maserati--they all had shirts swaying in those backseat closets. (Is this an unwritten rule?)

Unknown to us, we had joined the caravan of white-haired travelers heading back home to the North. Who are these peripetetic people? Much to my surprise, they are not predominantly Canadians and many aren't from the coldest states in the U.S. Curious? Here are some statistics from a survey done at the University of Florida:

Snowbird Statistics:

13.1% are New Yorkers
7.4% are Michiganders
6.7 % are from Ohio
5.8% are from Pennyslvania
5.5 % are Canadians.

Their average length of stay in Florida? 5 months.
The number of snowbirds? Approximately 920,000 in 2004.
Their average income? Over $100,000.

There you have it! Curiosity satisfied?

2 comments:

Debbie said...

Hey Patti, How are you all doing? Buy the way one of those cars will be Anthony and I soon

Anonymous said...

Hi Patty,

John and I want to be included in that migration. I want to rent a small RV each trip, so we don't have to sleep in any of the those flea bag hotels. Also, I'll do anything to get out of New England winters. I swear they get longer each year. Burrrrrr.

Susan AKA Tucsonian