Saskatchewan snowbirds looking forward to warmer winter climate

Herman Hulshof and his wife can’t wait to get to Mesa, Ariz., where the former Regina residents have a place for their recreational vehicle at a resort with 3,000 other snowbirds.

This will be the Hulshofs’ fourth time at the vacation spot, after missing last year because of COVID-related border restrictions.

The two, who are retired and in their 60s, travel throughout North America. Currently, they’re in Sarnia, Ont., visiting relatives before they head out on their week-long trip south of the border on Wednesday.

“This is kind of our lifestyle. We live in our motorhome so we’re always travelling across Canada and the United States, spending the winter in the south,” Hulshof said. “We were really, really pleased to see that (the border) finally opened and we can visit all of our snowbird friends.”

The U.S. border opened to Canadian vehicle traffic after a nearly 20-month closure Monday. Many crossings across the country were clogged with hundreds of vehicles waiting to get across.

While exploring Saskatchewan was a lot of fun for the pair last year, they’re ready to get back to their routine.

“The sun always shines in Arizona. The activities there … there are so many things that happen there. I’ve never seen so many active people 55 and older,” Hulshof explained.

He doesn’t have too many concerns, even though fewer people in the southern U.S. overall are vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Patty and I really believe in the importance of the COVID vaccine … so we are going to be very cautious at our R.V. resort. We’ll be masking and doing the social distancing and I told my wife she probably shouldn’t do any line dancing during Happy Hour,” he laughed.

The two are also heading south with extensive health insurance coverage, which includes provisions if they contract COVID. Hulshof is not too worried though because they’re often outdoors, and they sleep, eat and shower in their own space.

“It really is a really safe way of living ever since COVID hit more than a year ago,” he added.