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Have you ever thought you wanted to live near the water? To be able to wake up to amazing sunrises and to fall asleep to breath-taking sunsets is a dream many of us share. To be able to drink coffee while inhaling the smell of the water in the mornings or maybe sipping wine or a cocktail in the evenings while viewing the moon over the beach sounds like a fairy tale. The cost of purchasing a home near the beach can be outrageous, but it may be affordable if you consider a home on the water instead of near.
House boats have been around for a long time. They gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s when people were more acceptable to living an alternative lifestyle. While house boat production did decrease, full-time house boat living is now making a comeback. Some people use them for a weekend getaway or for entertaining guests, but others have taken the plunge and use them for full-time living. One benefit is the maintenance that you trade on your typical home. Instead of spending the weekends mowing, painting, gardening or shoveling snow, your backyard is made of water that has no maintenance required from you whatsoever. Sure, the house boat itself does require some maintenance, but when you have the view and atmosphere of the water surrounding you, it won’t feel like a chore. The house boat does need to be removed from the water every four or five years for the upkeep of the exterior and to check the bottom, but other than that and the mechanical systems maintenance, that is pretty much it.
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Whether you are single and love entertaining, have a family or are retired empty nesters, house boat living can be a fantastic adventure. Similar to living in an RV or small home, everything has its place and many pieces of furniture can be multi-functional to conserve space. Some house boats are larger and like living in a condo or luxury apartment. You can make a house boat as luxurious or simple as you choose.
The neighbors in your backyard are up to you. The neighborhood you live in is up to you. And like an RV, the destination is up to you. You get to decide where you want to go and what views you want to see. Many people choose to work on their house boat by doing online work or working close by to not have a long commute. If you love to fish, that can be the first thing you decide to do each morning. Your full-time living house boat can feel like a vacation every day of the year and is much more affordable than airfare and finding a hotel right on the water.
Can you imagine sleeping on a boat? We are rocked to sleep from the time we are infants, then as toddlers in a moving vehicle. On a house boat, you are lulled to sleep each night by the feel of the water rocking the boat. It is almost like sleeping on a large waterbed. The only drawback would be inclement weather where you wouldn’t be able to control the large waves. As you grew more experienced with locations and weather patterns, hopefully, you would be able to avoid stormy weather most of the time. If not, you can always take seasickness medicine and chalk it up to a good adventure story to share with your friends.
If you have the water bug gene and feel better when you are closer to water, you may want to consider this grand adventure. If you are on the fence as to whether or not to purchase a house boat for living in year round, you may want to rent one to try for a shorter time. While living on a house boat full time isn’t exactly typical, it is growing in popularity every year. Whether you choose a simple shanty or a luxurious condo, living right on the water can be an exceptional experience to cross off your bucket list.
