Some of our retirees take wing during the coldest months of the year. Where do they go? What brings them back year after year? We asked some of PSPP’s snowbirds to tell us their stories.
PSPP is proud to be part of the retirement plans of 100,000 members across Alberta and around the world. We asked a few of our retirees how their lives have changed since retirement and they were happy to share some updates with us!
Whether retiree or active member, do you have a story of your own to share? Visit us at Member Stories – Public Service Pension Plan and tell us all about it!
After thirty-five years in Edmonton, my wife Carol and I finally committed to spending our winters in Phoenix. What started as a two week escape has turned into a six month ritual that feels like a second life.
This second life is centered around sunshine, golf carts, and neighbours who feel like family.
Most mornings we hit the course by 8 am. I’m not a great golfer, but I love the banter, the warm air, the simple joy of doing something slow and unhurried. Carol has fallen in with a group of pickleball fanatics and I swear she’s more competitive than she ever was at work.
Evenings are quiet. We have the occasional potluck, a poolside chat, or a drive to Scottsdale for dinner. We video chat with the kids and grandkids, but they know we’re happiest here.
There’s something comforting about being surrounded by people our age, all living this same chapter. Life in Phoenix isn’t a vacation anymore: it’s a lifestyle we earned.
Edward W.
When my husband passed three years ago, Alberta winters became unbearably long.
A friend suggested Puerto Vallarta. I hesitated. Travelling alone? It felt daunting.
I came anyway. These six month stretches have become my life. They are the space where I’ve rebuilt myself.
I have a time share in a condo overlooking Banderas Bay. Every evening I sit on the balcony and watch pelicans skim the water. It’s become my form of meditation.
I’ve found a circle of retirees – widows, singles, couples – who gather for beach walks and market outings.
There’s no pressure but I find happiness creeping in through small moments. Maybe there’s a taco lunch, maybe I learn a few new Spanish phrases. Sometimes a local greets me by name.
My children were worried at first, but now they see how alive I feel here. I’ve rediscovered myself.
Anna S.
After my divorce at 62, I felt freedom and fear. A friend of mine invited me down to Palm Springs for the winter. It changed everything. What started as an experiment has turned into my annual ritual. I spend five or six months in a small casita near downtown, surrounded by mountains, art and endless sunshine.
I’ve embraced the active life! I take morning hikes through Tahquitz Canyon, I cycle with a group of other “silver riders,” and I spend evenings exploring architecture. I’m surprised by how easy it is to make friends here. People are open, curious, and happy to adopt another Canadian into the fold. I’ve even taken up photography – the desert light is unlike anything back home.
My adult kids think I’m going through a second adolescence, and maybe they’re right. But it feels good. Palm Springs has given me something Alberta winters couldn’t. I finally have room to reinvent myself and I’m surrounded by people doing the same.
Carla D.
My husband and I chose Mesa because half our extended family winters nearby and the other half loves to visit! Our park feels like a small Canadian village, with half the residents seeming to be from Alberta.
But the real joy of our snowbird life is being the “destination grandparents.”
Every February, the grandkids fly down for a week. We plan activities months in advance: spring training baseball games, desert zoos, and afternoons splashing in the pool. It’s special in a way that everyday babysitting never was. It’s concentrated, intentional family time. And when the house empties out again, we settle back into our routine of morning walks, craft groups, and volunteering at the community center.
I still love Edmonton, but the winter aches are getting harder. Down here, my joints don’t complain, and neither do I. It feels like we’ve struck the perfect balance between family and freedom.
Deb B.
I never expected to become a snowbird. I retired early from nursing, bought a used RV, and thought I’d try one winter down south. Seven years later, I’m still doing the same migration to Puerto Peñasco in Mexico, and I’ve never felt more socially alive. I travel alone, but I’m hardly ever lonely. Someone is always organizing a potluck, card night, music jam, or charity fundraiser.
I’ve become the unofficial ambassador, introducing newcomers and arranging sunrise kayaking trips. There’s a joy in building community, especially with people who also crave connection. Back in Alberta, many of my friends were still working or busy with grandkids. Here, our clocks all run at the same speed.
The beach is my daily therapy. I walk every morning. I gather shells and chat with whoever’s out. Six months here fills me with enough warmth to last the rest of the year.
Susan N.
So what do you think? Could you be convinced to spend part of your year somewhere besides Alberta? Where would you go? Could you see yourself living the snowbird life?
PSPP thanks our members for sharing their adventures with us. We are proud to have been part of making their retirement dreams come true – and we will be proud to be part of yours.
Do you have a story of your own to share? Visit us at Member Stories.