Snowbirds

Abstract

The recent interest in the mobility of the elderly overlooks the temporary migration patterns of retirees. The focus of this article is on the seasonal migration of retirees to travel trailer and mobile home parks in a Sunbelt state. A comparison of the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of female participants with women of a similar age range in the United States indicates that participants are white, married, well-educated retirees usually from the north central and western states. Travel trailer residents tend to be younger, healthier, and less well-off economically than mobile home residents although there is much heterogeneity in both groups. The lifestyle of the travel trailer and mobile home park residents supports the activity model of aging.