Things to know before moving into a houseboat

Find balance. And we aren’t talking about inner peace: Because the home is actually floating, too many heavy items on one side of the room can literally sink your design. To keep a flush floor plan, make sure weight is distributed evenly throughout. Get to know a diver. Just like landlubbing homeowners have a plumber on speed dial, houseboat dwellers should have a dive service at the ready. Even a windy afternoon can result in the deck furniture being blown into the bay. “Most of what has ended up in the water is fine once it’s pulled out — it just needs to dry,” Dixon says. Buy a kayak. Even if greeting the day with a paddle isn’t your thing, consider some kind of small boat your fire escape if you need to get out of the house and the front door or boat ramp has been compromised. Be prepared to be neighborly. Most houseboat communities are very tight knit, and residents make it a point to know the goings on of their neighbors. From making sure everyone is safe during a storm to sharing the tips and tricks of houseboat life, being active in your community is a necessity. Live and let live. While more houseboats, especially in desirable enclaves like Sausalito, are getting souped up, don’t expect any rules on acceptable window coverings to come to the community. Many who live on the water still do so to escape the norms and expectations of life on land, so you better be OK with what and whomever may dock next to you.