Ah yes, it is that time of the year. Every stereotype about the elderly comes true in Arizona, Florida, the deserts of California, and Hawaii.
Exhibit A: Elderly woman in motorized grocery cart revs it up and pushes another person’s grocery cart right out of her way. Now, I hate it when people block the aisles as well, but since the other person had been blocking the aisle for less than 2 seconds, I think I’d be patient enough to wait at least 5 seconds. I might even say, “Excuse me, can I get by?” first.
Exhibit B: The sign says “Fire Lane” not “Snowbird Lane” I know we should feel blessed that you came down to bless our meager state with your presence, but you really do have to park the Caddy in a parking space, not right in front of the store.
Exhibit C: No, there really isn’t a senior discount on New Year’s Eve!
Step 1: Call police, report fire hazard
Step 2: Stand and watch as ticket is issued, maybe even Caddy is towed
Step 3: Profit…er, I mean, cackle loudly and longly while Snowbird rants at police officer, hopefully ensuring an even larger fine
I was actually thinking about starting a thread, asking Arizonans what they think of all the western Canadian snowbirds they get (I fully intend to be one myself someday). I guess the snowbirds are annoying?
But you have to understand - it’s friggin’ cold and snowy here! There’s only so much of that a person can take!
ETA: The behaviours described are asshole behaviours, not specific to snowbirds. Are there specific things snowbirds do that residents would really prefer they didn’t? I’d like to be a considerate snowbird.
I wish, how I wish. Realistically policeman is smart enough to not earn time on the 6 pm news. The police force doesn’t want a sob story about grandpa going in to get his heart pills and finding out his car was towed away. Of course, they’re forgetting that gramps also bought a case of whiskey, a box of cigars, and enough red meat to open a butcher shop.
Parking in the fire lane is something I loathe and will applaud when I see a police officer writing a ticket for it. That, and parking in a handicap spot. Og, how that chaps my ass. Funny thing is, I have a gf who has a handicap tag, but I won’t allow her to park in the handicap spots when I am with her – her tag is because she’s bi-polar, that doesn’t preclude her from walking. She thinks it’s hysterical that I won’t let her park in the spots when we go out, I think she’s a twat for doing it at all.
It was stupid and snarky, like we should all tolerate obnoxious and ridiculous behavior just because the old douchebags spend money in our economy. Fucking please. Snowbirds are the worst thing about living here, including hurricanes and Charlie Crist.
I don’t know – I don’t doubt that by the time I am senescent and addled enough to find Florida an appealling destination, I’ll also lose what little ability I have to behave in public.
Aha! Vindicated at last! My folks have been going to Texas for the winter for several years, and they think that “Winter Texans” are beloved by the locals, and it’s some special club that they belong to. I told them that they probably annoy the ever-lovin’ CRAP out of the locals.
See, I was right.
(I went to visit them there once, and I swear it was just like Del Boca Vista. Only in an RV park instead of condos.)
