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On Being Snowbirds...

“For the past fifteen years we have migrated with the seasons.”

We spend winters in Antigua, Guatemala and summers in Washington, D.C. These are our feelings about the process:

First, we love Washington for the excitement of its politics and the richness of its cultural activities. We follow the goings on in the White House and in Congress as only those "inside the beltway" can appreciate. The Washington Post is at our door every morning at 5 a.m. and we devour it before breakfast.

We also enjoy being closer to our children and grandchildren while we are in the U.S. They all live along the east coast and we see them while we are in Washington. It is a major expenditure for them to visit us in Antigua.

On the Other Hand...

We are also very much at home when we are in Antigua. We first visited in 1961 and have been back every year since. We have so many Guatemalan and foreign friends that we can hardly walk a block without seeing someone we know. It’s a wonderful feeling. Cynthia knows well the vendors in the market and artisans all over town. Don Raul has been cutting my hair and telling me about what goes on in city hall for 35 years. These are wonderful connections.

There is a new restaurant or two to visit every time we arrive. And a new art gallery to see, as well as all the old favorites.

The climate, of course, is a big attraction in Antigua. While we are there, we forget about how much of the world talks about the weather every day. In Washington it is always too hot or too cold, or we’re about to have a storm. We say there is usually a week or two of "Antigua weather" in Washington each spring and fall.

So, What’s Not To Like?

The challenges for us with these periodic migrations include:

• Whatever we want is in the other place!
• Our housing costs are higher maintaining two homes.
• We have to juggle our medical attention, dental work in Antigua and high tech medical work in D.C.
• Our distant friends never know where we are.
• Mail is always uncertain (although E-mail helps).
• Moving back and forth makes it harder to assume community responsibilities in either place.

So...we will continue to migrate as long as these old wings will support us. Then we will settle down to roost in one place or the other.

The authors, David & Cynthia Jickling contribute time, talent and energy to the community wherever they may be roosting.