Hot Rods What do you snow birds do in the winter months?

I remembered he was near Sabino Canyon

 

Well , dang, man! You are not a snowbird! The opposite. North in the summer to beat the heat?

Ben

 

That's really pretty.

 

That's how I look at it. We're here almost 7 months of the year, so we leave the heat and hurricanes behind. Lucky so far.

 

Yeah, the TN property looks nice, but I keep thinking I'd be busy keeping it all looking nice.
I've got 2 acres of scrub, a worn down double wide and I can just ignore stuff. That looks like a lot of mowing, trimming, tending and I don't have time for that, I gotta get the car lookin' better.

 

I freeze my tail feathers off….

 

Wow. That's a big leap. We took a Caribbean cruise this past winter, and while we didn't stop in Aruba, (someplace I've always wanted to go), we did several "day visits", I liked Grand Cayman Island, similar houses to ours here, no abject poverty (at least visibly), the cost of living sounded reasonable, no taxes AT ALL, but life on an island wouldn't be comfortable for me. Good for you.

 

Up by until 2012 I was building a car every fall/winter, then the older I got the longer it was taking until my last build took me 2 years.
After some significant injury and health issues I didn’t build anything for about 6 years, then I switched to building a few old Harleys. Bought a place in SW Florida to spend the winters and haven’t built any cars since I finished my 40 coupe in ‘14. I just recently started a new pretty big project and probably the last big build I will do. I don’t really do much tinkering on cars at all in the winter now. I just enjoy being a snowbird.

 

Hello,

Well, we have lived in So Cal since 1946. Through thick and thin, memories serve us as being mild weather folks like all So Cal residents. So, it is long sleeve t-shirt, plus various hooded sweatshirts for warmth. As my wife likes to call it, “winter clothes…” The minute the sun peaks out and the outside is slightly warmer than 60 degrees, we are enjoying So Cal beaches again. It is a draw that has not stopped. If we have to, a short drive to the local mountains will give us a day in the snow.

But, there were times when the snow blasted So Cal like there was no tomorrow. In 1949, all of California from the Baja Mexico border up the coast, was a blanket of snow that most have not seen in years. We were little kids and thought that was just a snowstorm overnight. But, every city was covered with heavy snow. Even the coastal beachfront cities.

But, since then, being snow birds, we took any storm to be a gift to the local mountains for snow skiing. If the local mountains were laden with a blanket of powder, then almost 400 miles north was our snow heaven. Mammoth Mountain. We always knew this mountain gathered more snow for our tastes and the runs were pretty outstanding. As a matter of fact, in the recent 2024 and winter 2025 storms, we got a lot of rain and the local mountain range got snow. But, Mammoth Mountain got covered with snow and the record snowfall of 12 feet covered the whole city and community.

So, they are technically snowbirds. Even living in a mild climate area, we too, were always inkling for something different than daily sun, ocean/beach lifestyle and warm weather. A dash of cold white snow was good for the soul and allowed us to experience an unusual way of getting along with “Mother Nature.”
But, we are way beyond "snow chains..."

Jnaki

In recent times, the last heavy “frozen ice” to So Cal coastal areas were the blasting we got in 2017.
Killjoy Monday morning climatologists calling it "pea hail" or some other snowlike precipitation, but not snow.

January 23 2017 Snow in our backyard?

Our granddaughter thought it was a lot of fun to be able to make a snowman/woman if we could call it that… ha!

Sure glad we live in shorts and T-shirt climate, So Cal. Our extended family in the Midwest longs to be back in So Cal, just because of the weather and being near the ocean. Even our freezer is not in the minus degree scenario ! YRMV

Is the Beach Boys song “Warmth Of The Sun,” speaking our words in some way?

"What good is the dawn
That grows into day
The sunset at night
Or living this way..."

 

We will be returning home tomorrow from Aruba after a week's stay. I must say with the house being rented for vacation rentals when we're not here there's always a lot of things to do and spruce up. Even with "chores" it's been a great visit, time at the beach, in our pool, and went some places we hadn't been before.

For some reason I'm ready to get back home this trip. I have a lot going on back home. That feeling just reinforces my earlier comment that I don't think I'm cut out for stays longer than one or two weeks.

BTW....I've never been to the Grand Cayman Islands but I will say I feel very comfortable and safe in Aruba. As an example my wife and I were at checkout in a grocery store this week and when I got out my money clip to pay, a $100 bill that apparently wasn't in the clip fell on the floor without my knowledge. A lady came up behind me, handed it to me and said "I noticed this fall out of your pocket". Talk about honesty!

Lynn

 

Im still well into my years left working... (im 45) ...

I live in Alaska, and im a Shop teacher. My wife is transitioning into work from home.

My long term plans are to move south, Teach, and come back to Alaska for the souths gross summers.

 

I recently built a small house in Pahrump Nevada. It's only a 14 hour drive from my primary residence in Oregon, and there is a big car culture there, they have a get together every thusday afternoon and every saturday morning, lots of Antiques, Classics, and hot rods. The land is more affordable than most places in Arizona and the big deal for me was that I could get there in one days drive. It's a big enough town to have a Home Depot and about 50 eating establishments , but small enough that traffic isn't bad. It's about 60 miles to Las Vegas for city stuff. I plan on leaving one of the 32's down there full time.

 

Just sayin' Those hills are not as populous, like you are used to.
One afternoon riding my trailer-truck North from Chattanooga I struck a line heading through the Mts. heading NE, and found lovely wooded hills, that were as countrified as one could wish for.
Fact is when I identify as 'seen em all' I am asked for a favorite. After debunking a few 'myths' I claim Tennessee. *Would If I could*In A Minute *

 

Pic shows nicely trimmed. I'd like it that way, but don't have the budget to 'farm it out' (get it?) so I'd be on the tractor/mower. I'm also stereotyping that stuff grows out there. If it just comes up an inch or so a year, great!
I'm not turnin' up my nose, I haven't been there. It looks lovely.

 

We were in Florida visiting my brother when I got a call from my neighbor who was keeping an eye on our Ozarks house. Seems our house burned to the ground. (investigator said a squirrel ate the main electric line and started it).
Well, we got lucky and found a house in Florida that (a) I could afford, plus no HOA crap. (b) it was on a dead end road and sat on an acre and finally, (c) it had a huge shop that will fit two and still have working room. Can't ask for more than that.

 

Been a snowbird from Oregon to SoCal desert near Palm Springs (but a lower rent district) for about 7? years. I go a little nutty without being to wrench on my own stuff and drive the hot rod, but here’s how I make it work for 3-4 months during the winter.

I learned to pinstripe and hand letter. I now do this year-around, but spend the most time on it in the winter… maybe 1-3 hours each day. I enjoy it.

The local car culture is good and the greater area car culture is great. I attend local cars-n-coffees, go to local car shows, and have attended the GNRS every year I’ve been a snowbird. Went to the Race of Gentlemen a couple years ago when it was in SoCal. Two brothers live near LA and have OT cars they drag race, so there’s that. I drop in at hot rod shops when I can; been to the Petersen Museum. Been to the Winternationals many times.

I read a lot of car books and vintage magazines.

I drink more than during the summer, which is nice.

It can be done.

The pics are some lettering and striping projects.

Giddyup,

John

 

Looking for a Southern place soon. House hunting this Fall. 5mo of cold is a little much, since I don't ski or snowmobile anymore.

 

We’ve made quite a few trips to the west coast of Florida over the winter while we were “still working”
After retirement we realized we could no longer afford staying in condos for months stays.
During covid we decided to buy a new 40ft RV.
Back Then, no one was even traveling let alone buying RV’s. Got it for half price.
Decided for the first time to let the RV set in Florida. During the back to back hurricanes last year we lost the trailer.
God Bless State Farm, they totaled it for thousands more than I paid for it new 3 yrs prior.
We were able to sell the pulling truck, take the insurance money and buy a totally renovated home that was newly furnished at a RV resort.
Spent this past 6 months in Florida mostly just goofing off and setting up the new residence.
It’s all about biking, fishing, boating, eating seafood and taking my wife to her favorite photographic spots to satisfy her hobby.
Love it. But miss the “playing with my toys” there.
Bought a boat…that helps.
It’s a 1990 Florida made (Beach Cat) all fiberglass catamaran running a 75 horse Merc.
Just returned back to Ohio to get our B&B back up and running for tourist season here in this historic town. Staying busy keeps us young.
Picture time….



Home now. All the Hotrod’s started right up.
This is our B&B.

 

Rain, wind or hot, or cold and occasional snow I keep wrenching along

 

1 Shot = 1 Kill love the handle Sir

 

I really like the flamed panel!

 

loved riding out to Pahrump through Red Rock Canon while I was working in Vegas old bar off the side of highway Harleys & Hot Rods every weekend with good bar food and House Band

 

Since the cars take up the summers in the Seattle area, I found I didn’t miss them down in Tucson. Friends visit, little projects, other things to do. Since all the family is back in the greater Seattle area, I’m north for Thanksgiving till after Christmas, then south till it gets over 100. A little more travel cost than I’d like (we fly most times), but all in all it’s working out. But at 75, I’m not inclined to spend the long hours in the garage I used to be. It’s more maintenance, no more builds for me. I can handle that down south.