Elaine Vermaas

Houseboat Suburbia World wide downturns in economic stability have resulted in the average man struggling to afford rental costs and housing costs. Together with the growing drive towards a greater global eco-conscience, a trend has been identified as both a solution to low-cost living and going green. Here are just a few reasons why the concept of living in a houseboat may be a solution for some. Financial Sensibility Houseboat living comes with an initial layout for the boat and yearly mooring fees, insurance and certification costs. However, these costs are much less than those you would be liable for when living in a house or flat in the city or even the suburbs. There are also some well maintained second-hand boats for sale online that you could consider purchasing to refurbish and renovate over time. Houseboats come in all sizes from large floating homes to small narrowboats. You will be able to find one that suits your lifestyle and your pocket. Keeping it Green If your finances allow you to purchase a new houseboat, it will probably have been manufactured as a ‘Green Boat’. Most will already have features such as solar panel driven engines, water sanitizer capabilities and a recyclable floating system, as well as other onboard eco-friendly fittings and mechanisms. The roof of the boat’s main cabin can be repurposed as an organic vegetable garden and your overall carbon footprint will be reduced. You will be well on your way to doing your bit towards healing our planet. Need To Relocate? This is a huge perk to houseboat living if you need to relocate for employment opportunities, or to get away from those noisy neighbors, all you have to do is un-moor your boat and sail away! Your local council offices will have all the information on where it is permissible to moor your home and the applicable costs. You will have an actual portable home! You could even go on holiday to new river locations and even other ports for a weekend getaway. Would This Lifestyle Suit You? Polls taken in the greater London area, where the trend has taken off in recent years, showed more young adults than established families adopting this lifestyle. The reasons for this were determined to be mainly financial. Young adults do not always have the earning power to afford homes in the suburbs or flats in town. They have also not yet started their families, so a smaller houseboat is not too cramped for them. There are larger houseboats suitable for four or five-member families. When polled, these families said the move to onboard living was the best decision they ever made. However, the solution would logically not appeal to everyone. Sit back and imagine for a moment… Being slowly rocked to sleep each night by the gentle ebb and flow of the river. Breathing in fresh air during your leisure time and not the usual city pollution. Preparing fresh organic meals using ingredients from your roof garden. Having your financial burdens, caused by city dwelling, eased. Now ask yourself if you can afford not to consider a riverboat as your future home?