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The Secret Life of a Snowbird: An Inside Look at Retirement in America's Sunbelt
An Inside Look at Retirement in America's Sunbelt (HINT: It's humorous, poignant and warm!)
The Secret Life of a Snowbird provides a window into the life of snowbirds, those refugees from the frozen north who escape winter at home by migrating southward each year. With a keen eye for the absurd as well as the meaningful, author Len Schritter (a potato farmer from Idaho) shares his observations of his annual trek to Mesa, Arizona.
Momentarily taken aback by a strange woman's offer to rub him with her pig, Len eventually embraces the idiosyncrasies of Wednesday night bingo. Another time, he challenges himself to discover and destroy the green culprit that brought down upon him the wrath of the resort community's weed police. Then there is the story of the insidious allure of tequila, and the one about the old woman in the parking lot.
The author is a gifted storyteller who weaves his tales (he proclaims them all to be true, of course) about the not-so-mundane life of a snowbird. Anyone who lives in or who has visited the south in the wintertime has probably encountered snowbirds. But this may be the first time we've had the opportunity to learn what their lives are really like.
The Secret Life of a Snowbird provides a window into the life of snowbirds, those refugees from the frozen north who escape winter at home by migrating southward each year. With a keen eye for the absurd as well as the meaningful, author Len Schritter (a potato farmer from Idaho) shares his observations of his annual trek to Mesa, Arizona.
Momentarily taken aback by a strange woman's offer to rub him with her pig, Len eventually embraces the idiosyncrasies of Wednesday night bingo. Another time, he challenges himself to discover and destroy the green culprit that brought down upon him the wrath of the resort community's weed police. Then there is the story of the insidious allure of tequila, and the one about the old woman in the parking lot.
The author is a gifted storyteller who weaves his tales (he proclaims them all to be true, of course) about the not-so-mundane life of a snowbird. Anyone who lives in or who has visited the south in the wintertime has probably encountered snowbirds. But this may be the first time we've had the opportunity to learn what their lives are really like.
178 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2007
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 29, 2016
There were parts that were pretty funny and being pretty familiar with "Snowbird Season", it was fun to see the other side after having only been a spectator of the annual migration.
However, the language was rather over-inflated considering the topic at hand. And the use of flashbacks was excessive. In one chapter, he kept flashing back from one part of his life, to an even further part of his past until all I could think was, "Just hit the dang golf ball, already!!!"
But overall a good, easy read. I'd give it 2.5 stars, but I'll round up.
However, the language was rather over-inflated considering the topic at hand. And the use of flashbacks was excessive. In one chapter, he kept flashing back from one part of his life, to an even further part of his past until all I could think was, "Just hit the dang golf ball, already!!!"
But overall a good, easy read. I'd give it 2.5 stars, but I'll round up.
June 13, 2015
I first met the author of this book at an Arizona Authors’ Association meeting. He asked me to buy his book. Now if I bought all of my fellow member’s books, I would have no room in the office/library for the computer. So I told him I would check it out of the public library. Of course, this was in 2007.
Also, since the title of the book was The Secret Life of a Snowbird, I thought this was silly for me to read the book. I know all about Snowbirds. They don’t have secrets. I live in Arizona and we permanent residences know all about snowbirds. Snowbirds are our name for winter visitors, who have a home in Arizona in the winter, and go back home to the snow country for the hot Arizona summer. They migrate just like the actual birds do.
In the author’s case, his snow home was in Idaho. He is not actually fully retired as most of the snowbirds are but works on his potato farm in the summer, and comes to Arizona for the winter. You see if he lived in Idaho all year around he would be inside all winter, the nongrowing season, so since could afford two homes, why not come to Arizona for the winter.
So you see, I did discover ‘secrets’ in the book. Not all snowbirds are retired. Some of the other ‘secrets’ I learned was during the early part of the ‘snowbird season,’ autumn, snowbirds are sympathetic to the plight of their relatives back home and try not to bring up the perfect weather, but during the real snowy season, like to rub it in that their temperature is “70 degrees” and sunny.
Other secrets of snowbirds include traveling across Arizona’s border to Mexico and getting soused on Mexico’s margaritas which apparently are a stronger variety than those North of the border, lying to their wives about their affinity for being dragged around Arizona’s largest outdoor flea market, the Mesa Marketplace Swamp Meet, and lying about their prowess on the golf course.
Mr. Schritter has an affinity for cleverly amusing, and witty writing, and I would have never have read the book if I had not discovered it by accident at the library sitting on the shelf for Arizona authors. I am glad that in 2015, I finally got around to fulfilling my promise to read his book, and check it out of the public library. You should read his book too!
Also, since the title of the book was The Secret Life of a Snowbird, I thought this was silly for me to read the book. I know all about Snowbirds. They don’t have secrets. I live in Arizona and we permanent residences know all about snowbirds. Snowbirds are our name for winter visitors, who have a home in Arizona in the winter, and go back home to the snow country for the hot Arizona summer. They migrate just like the actual birds do.
In the author’s case, his snow home was in Idaho. He is not actually fully retired as most of the snowbirds are but works on his potato farm in the summer, and comes to Arizona for the winter. You see if he lived in Idaho all year around he would be inside all winter, the nongrowing season, so since could afford two homes, why not come to Arizona for the winter.
So you see, I did discover ‘secrets’ in the book. Not all snowbirds are retired. Some of the other ‘secrets’ I learned was during the early part of the ‘snowbird season,’ autumn, snowbirds are sympathetic to the plight of their relatives back home and try not to bring up the perfect weather, but during the real snowy season, like to rub it in that their temperature is “70 degrees” and sunny.
Other secrets of snowbirds include traveling across Arizona’s border to Mexico and getting soused on Mexico’s margaritas which apparently are a stronger variety than those North of the border, lying to their wives about their affinity for being dragged around Arizona’s largest outdoor flea market, the Mesa Marketplace Swamp Meet, and lying about their prowess on the golf course.
Mr. Schritter has an affinity for cleverly amusing, and witty writing, and I would have never have read the book if I had not discovered it by accident at the library sitting on the shelf for Arizona authors. I am glad that in 2015, I finally got around to fulfilling my promise to read his book, and check it out of the public library. You should read his book too!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews