Living on a Boat
@DeborahDiane (40293)
Laguna Woods, California
July 23, 2018 9:43pm CST
During our visit to Eureka, we saw a number of old fishing boats in the Humboldt Bay. The one pictured above is an example.
Apparently, the government paid many of the fisherman to stop fishing. There were several reasons for that, but one was because the lumber industry had polluted the bay and some of the fish caught there were no longer healthy to eat. There is still some deep sea fishing allowed, but that does not require as many boats as in the past.
Many of the boats which were removed from the fishing fleet are either sitting empty and rotting, or they have been converted to homes. The one in this photo appeared to be one of those converted to a home. It looked like someone either lived on it, or spent a great deal of time on it.
Perhaps our next retirement condo could be a boat. What do you think? Could you live in a boat like the one in this photo? Since I get motion sickness, perhaps that would not be a good long-term idea!
13 people like this
18 responses
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
6 Aug 18
That's a nice-looking houseboat but the problem is that dwellings like that have shorter life span compared to houses built on land.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Aug 18
@sunrisefan - Yes, you make a good point. The lifespan of this home would not be as long as a house built on land!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471500)
• Switzerland
25 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane Boat houses are very (very) slow.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@LadyDuck - Yes, I agree. Usually they are just kept on one reasonably sized body of water and not moved very far. They would not be very safe if you had to evacuate in a hurry.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@LadyDuck - You are right. If a big enough hurricane hits, there are few places to go where your boat might be safe. Because the hurricanes or so unpredictable, you could move it a little further north or south and end up right in the middle of the storm anyway!
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
26 Sep 18
Maybe I would stay there for a short vacation perhaps but I would not stay there for good. I think living on land is much more preferred than that of in water. When rainy season comes and the river becomes flooded you are definitely not on the safe place to stay in.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
27 Sep 18
@DeborahDiane Yes but I do like to experience how it is to live in a boat for a short period of time. It look pretty cool and relaxing.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 18
@rsa101 - I agree. I think I feel safer on land, too. If something goes wrong, it is easier to get away.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
27 Sep 18
@rsa101 - I agree. It might be fun to do something like that on vacation!
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100282)
• India
24 Jul 18
I have never understood you Americans. You all confuse me.
If you were to upgrade those boats ..you could use it for your tourism! Affordable holidays in the US on a boat...I see so much potential there.
Likewise, there are many abandoned homes. Some can be upgraded and Americans can bring in tourists. Pay up their dues to China..with the monies.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@vandana7 - I do not understand us Americans, either! 
There are many abandoned buildings, homes and boats in the US which could be used to solve our homeless problem. However, all we get is talk, talk, talk, but no resolution to our problems!
There are many abandoned buildings, homes and boats in the US which could be used to solve our homeless problem. However, all we get is talk, talk, talk, but no resolution to our problems!1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100282)
• India
25 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane Phew... thanks for not taking it as offense..but you all are confusing. Yes, homeless problems can be solved. I once came across a veteran on wheel chair seeking a home. People are willing to wait for well over 2 years to sell their homes rather than let a 70 year old veteran and his wife use it and treat it as national solidarity.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@vandana7 - I agree with you, and I did not take offense. I think our values used to be better when our country went through hard times, like during the Great Depression. Then, we had national work programs that provided jobs for nearly everyone, and there were boarding houses which made it possible for most people to find a place to stay. I don't think any boarding houses exist anymore and no one seems to want to let strangers into their vacant homes and buildings.
1 person likes this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
26 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane Yes it is an amazing one.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@shshiju - I did not know that some people live on house boats in India. I just learned something new about your country. Thank you!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@shshiju - Oh, that would be fun for tourists. Something new and different to do!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Aug 18
@porwest - I think my husband would have loved to live on a boat, too, but I get seasick. He had a sailboat in San Francisco Bay when we were dating. He sold it a few months after we got married. We had boats on lakes when we lived in Texas, though. I don't get as seasick on lakes.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Aug 18
@porwest - Yes, I agree. My husband and I lived in an RV for six months when we were young, and traveled around the U.S. and Mexico. It was fun, but we were happy to rent an apartment and, later, buy a house once we were done. Six months was long enough!
1 person likes this
@porwest (90823)
• United States
14 Aug 18
@DeborahDiane I look at house boats like I look at RVs. I think it would be fun for a while and then it would just get old. I still like the idea though.
1 person likes this
@caopaopao (12395)
• China
24 Jul 18
I like to live on a boat like this forever. I mean, I can live on the water. It's great.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@caopaopao - There are a lot of people who love living on the water!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@id_peace - Those of us with motion sickness are limited in how much time we would want to stay on a boat. It would be terrible in rough weather!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@id_peace - Oh, no! I'm not that bad. I am OK on still water, but not on moving water.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
21 Sep 18
You would have to think of tsunamis.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Sep 18
@Aquitaine24 - Yes, a tsunami would be terrible if you lived on a boat.
@Aquitaine24 (11813)
• San Jose, California
23 Sep 18
@DeborahDiane You may have to abandon ship
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
29 Jul 18
I could not live on a boat permanently.. purely because of space ... but we used to have a narrow boat and travelled around englands waterways and would have at least 2 .. three week touring holidays on the boat...
I loved it...
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
29 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane. i'm sure you would...it was a lovely way to see parts of england... at a nice leasurely pace...lol
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
29 Jul 18
@sueznewz2 - That sounds lovely. I could see myself just traveling around some inland waterways on a boat for our vacation. I think we would enjoy that!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
30 Jul 18
@sueznewz2 - It sounds wonderful! Who knows what the future will bring. Maybe one of these days!
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Jul 18
That looks like a wonderful place to spend some time, but I am not sure about a full time home on a boat in that chilly, wet area.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@JamesHxstatic - I agree. I think it would be pretty miserable during a cold, wet January! It looked charming on a pleasant July day, but that is not what the weather is like most of the time.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29413)
• Eugene, Oregon
25 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane No, Eureka can get cold and foggy anytime, I suspect.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@JamesHxstatic - It was foggy a lot while we were there, earlier in July, and much cooler than I am used to in Southern California. However, it was a nice reprieve from the heat we have been having this summer. Perhaps we should go visit my brother-in-law for a while every summer!
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@Dena91 - There are a number of people along the coast of California who live on houseboats, or even on sailboats and motor boats. I don't know how many, but it is certainly an interesting lifestyle!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
12 Oct 18
@DeborahDiane
I love it. It looks like it is just sitting there waiting for someone to go live in it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
12 Oct 18
@Hannihar - I agree. It could be a fun place to spend a summer, at least!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130218)
• Israel
14 Oct 18
@DeborahDiane
I agree for a summer but not permanently.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@Icydoll - Yes, it could be a fun vacation home!
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
24 Jul 18
I think I could live in a boat but not the whole year.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@allen0187 - I agree. It might be fun for the summer, but not to live all the time!
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
24 Jul 18
A houseboat were not be very secure or safe from invaders.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jul 18
@JohnRoberts - You are absolutely right. It is not a very secure place to call home. And, things could get pretty uncomfortable whenever we have big waves. It is a charming idea, but only in nice weather!
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
24 Jul 18
Would only like to have it as a vacation home .
Looks like the one from Houseboat
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40293)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jul 18
@responsiveme - yes, it would be a fun vacation home.
1 person likes this
