How to be a conscious snowbird
In this blog, I will explore the ins and outs of snowbird culture and how that culture affects local communities. First, let's talk about how fun it would be to be a snowbird! The term snowbird relates to birds that migrate down south as the season changes and the conditions are too cold for birds to thrive there, so they head to a warmer climate, and visa versa. When conditions are stifling hot, they head back north for a more relaxed summer season experience. The benefits of being a snowbird traveler are plenty. You get to experience all the best parts of the communities where you land, including their high-season vibes with markets and festivals, to businesses that may only be open for the spring through fall to catch the snowbird rush. Following the climate where it is easiest to thrive may benefit people with specific health problems.
Being a snowbird doesn't mean you have houses in different regions. Some people live in their campers and follow the high seasons to experience our country's unique cultures. In our society, snowbirds consist primarily of retirees who worked hard their whole lives to have a few years of rest and fun. This also meant at this point in someone's life, they had the means to afford to keep up with 2 or more places, so they could travel between them when the weather got harsh. Nowadays, different generations are taking opportunities to travel and work online, sell everything they have, and live on the road or in a camper. Either way, in different communities I have lived in, we see a massive influx of young and old snowbirds at certain times of the year.
So, how does this positively and negatively affect communities when the snowbirds arrive? From my perspective, there are 2 ways to look at this situation, and there are some things snowbirds can do to be mindful of local communities. The not-so-savory parts of having snowbirds influx in your town…For starters, the traffic can be like 5 o'clock all day long. You can not get a table at your favorite restaurant that you look forward to all work week. Parking can be impossible when the snowbirds return, not to mention the road rage. Not all, but some snowbirds can be very selfish regarding their presence in your city.
That said, some communities benefit from the influx of resources the snowbirds bring into the local economy. Especially small-scale communities that can only usually keep a few businesses open during the slow season. From artists to concerts, markets, and festivals, all these industries need abundance to thrive and continue their craft. The outdoor adventure industry also benefits from the snowbird rush, especially here in our region of Western North Carolina.
So, how can we be mindful of our snowbird and tourists' presence in communities we visit or live in temporarily? To begin with, we can support small, local businesses so that the sweet communities we are attracted to in the first place can continue to thrive. Second, we can have more patience with the local people that spend their whole life in the community and then have to make room for you to be in their town and enjoy it. One of the most essential things snowbirds can do is keep their community clean. While hiking and enjoying the great outdoors, leave no trace, and keep the ecosystem pristine. As humans migrate or visit charming towns, we can be mindful of the land and people who thrive in the places we admire and have more patience for the locals while enjoying what their communities offer.
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