Tiny Bay Area Houseboat = Lots of Community Love

From admin on May 11th, 2010 in San Francisco

Ever awoken to the sound of seals splashing outside your bedroom window? Matt and Jennifer Harvey, owners of a houseboat on California’s Richardson Bay, sure have. Intrigued? Take a look at their fabulously unconventional abode.

The 1,000-square-foot home may be small for a couple with a 20-month baby and 4-year-old child, but with year-round beautiful views and daily sightings of wildlife, they were willing to give up the extra space.

Living smack-dab in the middle of a body of water requires the family to pay attention to tide charts in order to determine their plans for the day. But regardless of whether the water’s high or low, there’s always plenty of wildlife to spot.

The family had to get used to keeping their shopping to a minimum. After all, anything purchased on land must be carried back to the boat.

Part of living in a small space requires that every room of the house run efficiently. The kitchen is organized expertly; every appliance is stored in the same area that it’s used in, and only the essentials are displayed in plain view. Jennifer points out that she enjoys not having the hassle of running around during meal time.

Another upside to this lifestyle is the tight community that comes along with it. Everyone lives in tight quarters, so impromptu get-togethers are commonplace. And even better – they have the perfect rooftop patio for entertaining.

Living on water might not work for everyone, but it certainly could break up the monotony of everyday life.  And who wouldn’t want to be surrounded by a place this beautiful?