Survey What we do To no one’s surprise, we snowbirds are an active bunch. Survey respondents noted dozens of activities which they regularly enjoy at their winter destination, with 71% taking part in pastimes such as golf, pickleball, swimming and other recreational sports. It seems as if a lot of us also enjoy getting out in nature: more than 32% of us list hiking, birdwatching or similar activities as something that we do regularly. Many of us have a bit of the adventurer in us: a little more than 61% say that they love to explore the region which they’re visiting over the winter, either by sightseeing or going on day trips in and around the area. A good many of us (39%) like to take in the local arts scene at festivals, shows or similar events. A number of us enjoy socializing within our snowbird community at potlucks, dances or other meet-ups (51%). A smaller group of us take the opportunity to get out on the water (11%). Of course, downtime is a big part of the snowbird lifestyle. Fully half of us admit that, in addition to all of our physical and social activities, enjoying some rest, relaxation and quiet time remains a top priority over the winter. How we manage our money The snowbird community has become wealthier over the years: the majority of us (88%) now report that they earn more than $50,000 per year in our retirement, and fully 48% of us say that they earn more than $100,000. When we asked that question nearly a decade ago, the number was considerably lower: only 54% responded that they earned more than $50,000 per year, and only 19% earned more than $100,000. A large portion of us (35%) report that they’re self-sufficient when it comes to money – a percentage that’s remained fairly consistent across the years of our survey. A good number of us (24%) rely on our employment pensions for our retirement income, and another 11% say that they rely on their government benefits (either CPP and/or OAS payments). A handful of us are still working, either full time or part time (3%). As for where our wealth came from, our professional backgrounds are exceptionally varied. Some of us were educators in our working lives (11%); an equal number held jobs in finance or general office work. More than a few of us worked in the health-care industry (11%) or for the government or civil service (9%). The remainder had careers in the high-tech sector, manufacturing, trades and a variety of other jobs. 34 | www.snowbirds.org
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