My advice, which comes from Gaylord Maxwell (http://rvtravel.com/publish/gaylord.shtml and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9B9H3-6pOU ), is to try out different snowbird destinations before you settle on one.  Gaylord did a seminar at Life on Wheels on snowbird destinations. He always recommended moving around your first winter or two, one or two weeks here and there, more than one part of a state, more than one campground.  He said there were friendly people at all these places, activities, crafts, things to do, restaurants to eat in, shopping, but unless you move around, you will not find the best place for you.  You might not find anyplace that is "best", which is OK.  That is why you will find East Coast people who go to Arizona, West Coast people who go to Florida, others who go to Mexico, and others, like us, who rarely go to the same place every winter.  I guess I am sensitive to this subject, but I am not alone - http://www.mytripjournal.com/travel-766882.

Note that not everyone here is 55+, including Howard and Linda.  I am, but my wife isn't.  

Edit: I realized I should say that we have spent parts of winters in San Diego and Palm Springs/Indio CA, Quartzsite, Yuma, Lake Havasu City, greater Phoenix (Phoenix, Mesa, Apache Junction), Tucson and Benson AZ, Livingston, Rockport (Gulf Coast) and Harlingen (Rio Grande Valley), Texas, Summerdale AL (Gulf Shores), Panama City Beach, Ocala/Silver Springs, Bradenton/Sarasota, Fort Myers, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Key West, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Clermont/Orlando, Daytona Beach and Jacksonvlle/St. Augustine FL.  Lots of different things to do in these places, they all have their pluses and minuses.  For us Mesa AZ, where we are now, and Fort Myers FL, where we hope to spend next winter, are our favorites.  Others we know dislike both places and prefer places we don't like as well or don't like at all.  

-- Edited by bjoyce on Friday 17th of January 2014 12:21:57 PM

My wife posted a video on Facebook the other day and said that it represented her wish. The lyrics represented what she is looking forward to from our transition and of course they were romantic. After all, she is a girl. When we purchased our retirement home, we didn't figure in the delivery charges, $4250, so we had to sell our rental before we could get it delivered. She asked if they could overnight it. It's pretty obvious she isn't excited at all.

All that to make this point. We aren't looking to snowbird, at least not yet. There are things we want to see. They might not fit into the weather patterns. The rental we sold is in Mesa, AZ. We have no intention of going back there for more than a quick visit. Some of the kids are in Florida so that is a possibility. But, we really don't want to be tied to the sun or the weather. Our plans remain a blank sheet of paper.