The Happy Valley senior community will tell you that there’s plenty to do in the area — it’s one of the many reasons why they love living here. Between Penn State sports, the arts, plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels and abilities, and senior-focused programming through organizations like the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Penn State, there’s no shortage of activity.
That said, Central Pennsylvania isn’t exactly known for its mild and balmy winters. When the snow begins to pile up, snowbirds hit the road and head for warmer temps. That said, central Pennsylvania isn’t exactly known for its mild and balmy winters, and when the snow begins to pile up, snowbirds hit the road and head for warmer temps.
“The best of all worlds”
Joey and Sandy Gellis split their time between State College, Maine, and Florida. After their late spouses passed, the two met in 2019, while both vacationing at their second homes in Maine. At the time, Joey also had a house in Florida, while Sandy had a house in State College. After getting married in 2021 and selling one of their Maine homes, they’ve found the perfect balance between the three destinations.
“What we’ve been doing for the last few years is, in the winter, we’re in Florida, from November through probably the end of March, and then we’ll go up to State College for April and May, and … we’re [in Maine] for the summer and then come back around Labor Day to State College, and we’ll stay there for two months and then go back to Florida,” explains Sandy.
While the couple admits that traveling back and forth between the three properties can grow taxing, and that challenges do come with managing three homes and their lives split between them, they love their current arrangement. They have health care providers in both Florida and State College. Their children, who are spread across the country, visit their Maine residence over the summer, or Joey and Sandy will stop by during their drives between their homes.
“Sandy’s 81. I’m 74,” Joey shares. “They say, ‘How do you manage [it]?’ but we love it. When you get to Maine and eat all the lobster. … There’s a beautiful fish place just down the road that’s to die for.”
“I’d never been to State College in my life until I met [Sandy],” she adds. “I just love the campus. I love the sports, the wrestling, the restaurants, the people. We attend all the OLLI classes we can. … We really are very fortunate to have the best of all worlds.”
Not ready to buy? Rent your snowbird nest instead
Barney and Diane Dillon have chosen to rent a unit in Hilton Head Island every year, spending a month in late winter in South Carolina. Previously, the couple had owned a property in Ocean City, Maryland, but after selling that home, the two wanted something a little easier.
“When we owned our unit in Ocean City,” says Diane, “you always worry about storms. You worried about pipes leaking. When we sold it, we decided not to rebuy, because we didn’t want to worry about that anymore. [It’s] peace of mind.”
They try to rent the same unit every year, right on the ocean and centrally located. The rest of the time, the two live at The Village at Penn State.
“We love to walk on the beach, early in the morning. In the time of year we go, everyone can have their dogs on the beach. There’s bike riding. We have friends who live there permanently, so we get to visit with them, and there are two people who live here in The Village who also go to Hilton Head, and we get together with them while we’re there,” Diane says.
“It’s a great place for book reading, just relaxing,” says Barney. “Our deck overlooks the ocean and there’s nothing like getting up, having your cup of coffee and watching and listening to the ocean.”
The Dillons also time their visit to Hilton Head according to the Penn State sports schedules. Season ticketholders for the university’s hockey and basketball teams, the two remain in the area until the end of February and then head on to South Carolina for the month of March.
Bob and Diane Spahr similarly live at The Village at Penn State and rent their home-away-from-home rather than buying, renting a condo for a month or two each year in Florida. They also have kept their prior home in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania, but, when they were looking for a place to retire, they landed on The Village.
“It’s just amazing. Of all the places we looked at, it’s by far the nicest facility that we saw,” says Diane.
The husband and wife have been traveling to Florida in the winter months for the last 14 years, following Bob’s retirement and as the Northeast’s winters became “a lot.” Heading to spots like Amelia Island allows the two to continue on enjoying hobbies like golfing without worrying about the weather.
“If you get bored down here, it’s your own fault”
Bob and Jan Wallace also head to Florida during the colder months, but their mode of travel is a little different. The couple takes their RV from Centre County to The Sunshine State for five months out of the year, staying in an RV park, a change, they say, that allows them to socialize and stay active during a time of year that’s typically “cold and dreary and cloudy” in Happy Valley.
“We get up in the mornings and usually go for a walk around the park. We may go on organized bike rides. We go shopping and there are activities — shuffleboard, bocce, cards — with friends. You go out to dinner,” describes Bob.
“We’ve made amazing friends,” adds Jan. “For me, personally, that’s the biggest benefit of what we’re doing. We’ve made such good friends … and there’s always something to do. You can pick and choose — and if you get bored down here, it’s your own fault.”
“It’s not that there’s not a lot to do in State College,” Bob continues, “because we had basketball tickets for years, and we’ve been going to men’s basketball, football, women’s volleyball in the fall , and high school sports … but it’s a different lifestyle. … We’ve liked every bit of it so far.”
Like the Gellises, the Wallaces also admit that their chosen lifestyle comes with its challenges — for example, living in a 300-square-foot motorhome for five months out of the year — but they say the challenges are minor compared to the rewards.
Ron Smith, who goes back and forth between homes in North Fort Myers, Florida, and Bellefonte, likewise says he and his late wife, Lois, kept a packed schedule in the more than two decades they spent vacationing in the state.
“In the morning, we get up, my wife and I would have breakfast. I belonged to a shuffleboard club down in the park. … We have lunch. Then, in the afternoon, [there’s] a pool. They have a hot tub. They have all different activities. You can be as busy as you want to be,” he says.
Top tips for potential snowbirds
Thinking of buying a second, winter home outside of the State College area, or just traveling away for long periods of time? Our interviewees offer a few tips.
“Find something you can move into tomorrow and have two sets of everything, in your kitchen and your wardrobe, so you don’t have to schlep all the stuff back and forth all the time.” advises Sandy Gellis. “When you live in a few places, you have to be fully equipped in all places. Keep track of where you keep things. Maybe set up a spreadsheet.”
“Talk to other people,” says Bob Wallace. “Research it. This isn’t for everyone, obviously, or the faint of heart. When you’re down here, you’re far away from family. … Being able to communicate with people virtually makes things a lot easier.”
“Try it before you buy it,” notes Barney Dillon. “Go for a year or two, and make sure you like where you are. Then, if you’re interested in buying, buy a place.”
The Spahrs provide similar advice. “You have to find a place you really enjoy, because if you’re going for an extended length of time, it has to fit you,” says Diane, with Bob adds, “It would be smart to rent for a while, just to get the lay of the land … rather than just going to a particular town and deciding that’s where you want to be. You have to get a feel for the place.” T&G
Holly Riddle is a freelance writer forTown&Gown
