| Prelude | | | | 2 - You have friendly neighbors |
| In late 2003 I made a major move from the East | | | | Each moorage is different and each has a unique |
| coast to the West and from a land house to a | | | | personality. And each moorage is set in among |
| floating home. Friends who have not yet visited | | | | other moorages. For example, my neighborhood |
| keep asking me about this lifestyle so I thought | | | | of floating homes has at least 10 different |
| I'd write a few articles about life in a floating | | | | moorages and we all know each other; especially |
| home. | | | | those of us with dogs. |
| A floating home is different from a houseboat in | | | | We help each other with things such as tools, |
| that we cannot move under our own power; we | | | | car-pooling for shopping and even pet care for |
| need to be pushed or pulled to relocate...and that | | | | when we are out of town or stuck at work. It's |
| is a very expensive undertaking! | | | | just our way of life here. |
| We are grouped in moorages and have a | | | | 3- Swimming, fishing and boating are done right |
| common deck to which we are each connected | | | | from our "doorsteps" |
| via chains. That common deck is attached to | | | | Floating homes are just made for water toys and |
| pilings - but loosely so that we all go up and down | | | | the size of the toys vary. Many of my neighbors |
| in unison as the river rises and falls...and that can | | | | have kayaks or canoes, some have dinghies, |
| be many feet a day. | | | | many more have sailboats and some have large |
| We are also connected to regular utilities such as | | | | motorboats. And some have a few from the |
| city water and sewer, electricity and natural gas - | | | | above list - if they have the space for them. |
| as well as to cable and phone. And yes our | | | | Those with fishing licenses fish in what I call our |
| connections go through the water in conduits and | | | | backyard - where sturgeons hang out but are |
| all connections have stretchability! | | | | rarely caught. |
| Here are 5 reasons to love this lifestyle | | | | And in the summer, when the river is warmer, |
| 1- You have water on all 4 sides of your home | | | | we swim. |
| Water is a source of tranquility and seeing it out | | | | 4 - It's a feeling of being on "vacation" but 12 |
| every window in your home and on an every day | | | | months a year |
| basis can lead to feeling peaceful and energized; | | | | This is great but as most of us work at home as |
| especially when the sun is out and the birds are | | | | self-employed entrepreneurs, it can be tough |
| singing. | | | | some days - but we deal with it. |