It’s not the heat, it’s not the humidity – it’s the snow.
With Flin Flon experiencing its first snowfalls of the fall, another long, cold winter will soon return to the area.
However, some Flin Flon residents will not have to deal with the pitfalls of the snowy season.These folks will be taking part in the pastime known as ‘snowbirding’ – leaving Canada for sunnier locales in the American Southwest.
For some snowbirds, the move only means a temporary change of address. For others, it becomes a multi-month endeavour.
LaVerne Hinzman still calls Creighton his home, but heads to a community in Meza, Arizona when the snow starts falling. Hinzman will make his way south in the next few weeks.
“You’re not shoveling snow. You’re not beating up mosquitoes. You have a blue sky 90 per cent of the time, you have very little wind, you have a very low humidity level,” said Hinzman.
Joan Huntley has spent several winters in a small mobile home community in California’s Coachella Valley with her husband, Kirk. The two plan to head to their second home after Christmas.
“It’s a real playground. A lot of us refer to it as God’s little waiting room!” Huntley said.
Snowbirds, typically retirees, will often live in communities with other Canadians seeking warmer climates. Both Hinzman and the Huntleys live in parks – small communities where activities and necessities are always close at hand.
“If you have a desire to do anything, you can do it. You can go to NASCAR races, you can go to golf tournaments, you can go to shows… anything is there and available to you,” said Hinzman.
“Where we live, it’s a very small community. We’re out on the desert and we’re not close to any big towns or anything,” said Huntley.
“We have a lot of services just in our little area so you don’t have to travel.” Border crossing
While the idea may sound nice, moving from Canada to another country is not something a person can do with no prior planning.
Potential snowbirds need to convert currency, ensure their passport is valid and make sure they are fully insured. A keen knowledge of residency requirements is vital – a long list of rules must be followed if Canadian snowbirds hope to avoid American taxes and keep provincial health coverage.
Hinzman said some snowbirds hold two bank accounts – one for use while in Canada, the other full of ready-to-spend American greenbacks.
One of the biggest pitfalls of snowbirding can be handling urgent medical concerns.
Not long after Joan and Kirk Huntley moved to California two years ago, Kirk had a sudden health problem.
“They’ve got terrific medical care. So long as you’ve got your insurance, you’re well looked-after and seen to,” said Joan.
However, that health care comes with a cost. Health insurance costs for Canadian snowbirds in the United States can climb quickly. In addition, snowbirds with pre-existing medical conditions can be excluded from receiving insurance altogether.
“You need to have good medical [coverage] and not everybody does. Some people think, ‘if I get sick, I’ll come home,’ and that might work for some, but it doesn’t work for everybody, if you get sick down there and don’t have proper medical [coverage],” she said.
Huntley said that, due in part to rising insurance costs, she and her husband are unlikely to travel to Califonia next year.
“It’s mostly because of the cost. For our health insurance, it’s getting really high. It also takes us four or five days to get down there. It’s a very long time.”
Despite costs and potential for risks, spending the winter in a warmer climate is worth the upfront price for many Canadians.
“It becomes a second life, a second home,” said Hinzman. “The people and the activities we do down there, it’s totally different than what we have up here, but just as fulfilling and just as rewarding. For people with arthritis or breathing problems, it’s very good health-wise.”
