| Escape! | | | | perceived to "flow" from their presence. |
| As you head north across the Golden Gate Bridge to | | | | By the early sixties tensions were rife and the era |
| Marin County on 101 you first climb to the Waldo | | | | witnessed what became known as the "Houseboat |
| "Rainbow" tunnel then drop down a long winding part | | | | Wars" involving various factions of houseboaters, |
| of 101 to a short flat section of Sausalito. No matter | | | | floating-home owners, Sausalito City and Marin County |
| which Northern destination you're heading for, Tiburon, | | | | authorities. The very limited area under City control |
| Kentfield, San Rafael, Novato or Sonoma County, if | | | | (nearest Gate 5 Road/Varga Landing) became |
| you do this drive every day on your way home you | | | | legalized with proper arrangements for water, |
| will no doubt have thought on quite a few occasions | | | | electricity and sewerage disposal. Those proper |
| that those Sausalito houseboats off to your right, | | | | arrangements were also eventually imposed on the |
| sunning themselves on Richardson Bay, look mighty | | | | rest of the houseboats, representing the vast majority, |
| attractive! If you lived there you'd be home by now - | | | | in the unincorporated area of Marin County. During the |
| perhaps sitting on your deck, beverage in hand, | | | | sixties and seventies the houseboats developed their |
| communing with nature and looking out across the | | | | reputation for an unconventional and artistic lifestyle |
| water to the shining white city of San Francisco or | | | | and all the other trappings of the hippie generation. |
| perhaps to those poor commuters heading North - still | | | | Perhaps sadly, they gradually became more gentrified |
| a good many minutes away from their destination. | | | | with the majority of houseboats being replaced by |
| You are obviously not the first person to have thought | | | | floating homes on professionally made steel-reinforced |
| this. There are many professionals, artists and others | | | | concrete barges (a la AquaMaison). Many of the |
| who have accepted some of the few compromises | | | | floating homes are now quite spacious and extremely |
| of houseboat living in order to enjoy the tranquil life | | | | well (if somewhat idiosyncratically) decorated. |
| style, proximity to nature and camaraderie of living in | | | | The Amenities |
| what are more properly called floating homes as they | | | | The Sausalito houseboat area has great access to |
| are permanently tethered and quite sizeable. | | | | extensive biking and walking trails. A ferry service runs |
| Early History of Houseboats on the Bay | | | | to the San Francisco Ferry Building. The trip takes 25 |
| The history of these homes is long and interesting | | | | to 30 minutes. |
| though we'll only cover the more salient points here. It | | | | Many of the hillside homes in Sausalito have no garage |
| starts in the latter part of the nineteenth century when | | | | or permanent parking but the floating home residents |
| some San Francisco home owners established | | | | have adequate parking so that is a decided |
| vacation "Arks" around the Bay -especially on the | | | | advantage. |
| Belvedere Lagoons and Larkspur Creek - where they | | | | For those wanting to be close to nature the floating |
| disported themselves swimming, boating and socializing. | | | | homes of Sausalito might be hard to beat. At least ten |
| Having lost their homes in the San Francisco | | | | migratory bird species utilize Richardson Bay as part |
| earthquake of 1906 some families took up residence in | | | | of their winter migration and at least twenty-three |
| their "Arks" thus establishing a precedent of permanent | | | | species are permanent residents. |
| habitation. | | | | Being close to nature comes with some inconvenience |
| Post World War II | | | | in terms of schlepping groceries and garbage along the |
| As is well known, Sausalito was heavily involved in | | | | piers but clearly the many long-term residents are |
| World War II - both in building Liberty ships and | | | | willing to pay the price which also includes, as well as |
| provisioning ships for the Pacific War. After the war | | | | land taxes, fairly substantial "dock" fees up to about |
| the waterfront was littered with war surplus goods | | | | $1200 a month. |
| including balloon barges, supply barges, obsolete rail | | | | However, when you can be woken by the calls of |
| cars and much more. These were the basis of many | | | | seabirds, watch the sun rise over the Bay and set |
| of the original houseboats and were there for the | | | | over Mt Tamalpais, live in the tranquility of a |
| taking. With some energetic labor and inventiveness | | | | laissez-faire community and have an easy walk to the |
| many folk were able to create a "free" home for | | | | many and varied shops and restaurants in Sausalito; |
| themselves - including a place to put it in Richardson | | | | what more could you want - especially when it's all at |
| Bay or, more preferably, pulled right up onto the shores | | | | a fraction of the price the "nobs" on the hills pay for |
| of Richardson Bay for easier access to Bridgeway. | | | | equivalent accommodations. |
| Of course it was not long before the folks on the hills | | | | Want to start living this dream? Please contact me so |
| overlooking the Bay started to complain about the rag | | | | that I can show you your options in this unique |
| tag flotilla of boats on the shores and "anchored out" | | | | community. |
| on the Bay and, no doubt, about the health hazards | | | | Cosmo anyone? Cheers! |