“Snowbird” Lifestyle

So we may be some of the youngest “snowbirds” there are. This is our 8th year in SWFL. We have come to absolutely love our time here in Florida. Our children have made lifelong friends and we have come really intertwined in our Florida community (I rarely share where we actually live in Chicago/Florida for privacy reasons). The transition is super easy for all of us because we have been doing this for a while. What make it so hard is that my Husband has to miss out on a lot. We both feel that the positives outweigh the negatives so we are choosing to do this Snowbird lifestyle as long as we possible can. My husbands job is pretty flexible which makes things work a whole lot easier. He flys in for the weekend and depending on his work schedule he can leave when he needs (self employed perks!).  Our schools have been so great to work with and the curriculum is pretty much the same. We un-enroll at our Chicago school (like we are moving). And then get down here in Florida and re-enroll (like we just moved here). Considering we have done this for eight years now all the teachers and school districts knows us. Legally no one could really say anything to us as long as our children are enrolled in school. With that being said everybody has been super generous and accommodating to us which I appreciate so much. They are enrolled in public schools both ends. The boys have zero problems leaving their home in Chicago to come to Florida and vice versa when we leave. As much as I would love to inspire you all to join in on the snowbird lifestyle, I have to admit it has taken YEARS to get this down pat. Online it looks so easy. I don’t show what we had to do and move and rent/buy to establish a steady lifestyle. Cars, homes, job, schools. Its A LOT. But because of our flexible jobs and flexible children🙌🏼 we have decided it’s all worth it to give them this experience. I told myself the minute that they have problems transition or asked us not to leave their home in Chicago we would stop. So far, So good. We haven’t run into the issue with sports yet either which I am sure will make it much more difficult to leave. We are a huge golfing family and loved the idea of playing year round. Also we continue with our (hopeful!) soccer career here too. I definitely miss my family and friends but I know not much is going on back at home and I really love the down time I get here. I really enjoy being able to slow life down and enjoy the little things. I have way less distractions here and my primary focus is being a mom. Life here is pretty dreamy and I always say its just easier to “MOM” here..