Whether you snowbird in the great Southwest, Florida or any other winter location, plans to return to the home roost always start about this time of year.

We can always count on the trip home when the diesel prices start to rise in the spring. We also look forward to the beautiful flowers and landscape as we return to our Midwest home.

When it comes time to pick up and plan the trip up north, here are some of the issues that we typically review.

Weather is always a factor when you are making the long trip north or south. Not only is low temperature a concern, but wind is a challenge every spring.

Interstate weather is the old standby we use to check on temperature and wind along the route. Weather.com allows you to project your travel 10 days in advance. It may even be possible to change your route home to escape any predicted storms.

GPS, cellphones and other devices reduce the need for directories and other related references by our side. I still carry the directory for several of the national truck stops so we can fuel, walk the dog and grab a quick order of fast food.

The closer that we get to our northern destination, the quicker the stops become. This past week we exceeded our 300-mile-per-day target to arrive ahead of the last predicted storm of the season.

We always try to plan our campgrounds a day in advance. We have never made reservations for the return trip, but we usually are off the road by 4 p.m. If you predict you are going to arrive after 5 p.m., I would recommend calling the campground. Many offices close by 6 p.m., and you will often be left with directions you can't understand. This may allow you to keep your tow vehicle behind the motorhome or not requiring the unhooking of the fifth wheel from the truck.

We have a checklist of items we need to complete when we are migrating north.

First on the list is our inventory of prescriptions. Most prescription benefit managers will send your supplies to a winter address. You may also have them shipped to a postmaster in a small town along the route, but this always seems like an incident waiting to happen. Better yet, have them arrive at the winter address before you start your return trip.

Most snowbirds also keep an extra set of glasses in case of a loss or damaged pair. A list of all medications is kept in a "file of life" in the RV and in the truck. This information is critical if you are involved in an accident.

We call the insurance company to activate the coverage for vehicles that were in storage. We do not carry liability or collision on our vehicles that are not in use while we are gone. We also notify our Internet provider, water department (we have no water bill while we are gone), trash service, cable, newspaper and local police department while we are on the road.

Arriving at our home, we always pull into the driveway so that our RV door is facing the front of the home. Using the good old blue tubs, we transfer the refrigerator contents, canned goods, clothes and other person effects into the home.

Yes, we usually have piles of "stuff" in various locations throughout the home. This allows us to relocate the RV and then work on the contents at a more leisure pace. It always seems we come home with more "stuff" than when we started our trip a few months earlier.

The RV also receives some special attention. The water tank and the hot water heater are drained. I pull the 12-volt fuse and the 110 breaker for the water heater to prevent damage. Since we had to replace our 12-year-old refrigerator this winter, we do not want any extra expenses.

This is also a good time to flush the heater and check the anode rod. We have never had to winterize the RV when returning in the spring. The weather is carefully monitored to make certain that we do not have any possibility of frozen lines, but we keep the cabinet doors open in case we need to activate the furnace for a brief threat of freezing weather.

We usually sweep the RV the night before we arrive home and also perform a complete flush of the holding tanks. Shampoo of the carpet and a good wash job are the only tasks that remain before we have our unit ready for summer activities.

Most families are eager to make the snowbird trip in the fall or early winter, but they are also glad to return home to see family, friends, personal laundry facilities and a space to relax.

Even the space of our larger RV becomes confining the last few weeks of the season. Most couples will admit that the cozy living in the RV for a long period of time becomes a challenge. No, we do not want to consider full time, but we admire those that seek this style of RV living.

Once the sound of Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" plays for the last time on our CD, we give a big thanks for a great winter and a safe trip home.