New objects would suddenly appear in our house. A thermos. An old spy novel. Two workhorse panini presses. If I ever wondered where they’d come from, I only needed a two word explanation – Green Box. Growing up on East Pier, the green transformer box at the end of the dock was our very own take-a-penny leave-a-penny. A physical embodiment of the generosity of the community. A literal transformer – converting trash to treasure. One person’s discarded serving boards became one

Buying a floating home in Sausalito is unlike buying any house on land. The home floats. The land underneath it is leased, not owned. The financing scares off most banks. And the community on the docks operates by its own rhythms, rules, and relationships built over decades. If you're thinking about buying a floating home on Richardson Bay, this guide walks you through what actually matters — the slip leases, the financing, the construction, the buying process, and how to cho

I was hosting an open house this morning when I caught it on video. A slow pan across the living room, out the window, and there it was—a seal. Just hanging out in the water like it was nothing. For me, growing up here, it is nothing. Or at least, it's normal. Seals show up the way squirrels do in a backyard somewhere else. The birds in the morning, the slap of water against the dock, the occasional curious head popping up out of the channel—it's the soundtrack I've always li

My kids never had a grass backyard. What they had was the bay — and honestly, I think they got the better end of that deal. Growing up on floating homes means growing up close to something real. The seasons don't change through a window; you feel them. The water is cold in January and alive in July. The Rhythm of Nature The stripers run in the fall. You learn these things not because someone tells you, but because you're out there with a rod in your hand before school or hang

In 1985 I bought this houseboat for $48,100 with $7,500 and a loan from someone who didn't take missed payments lightly. It was sinking. I rebuilt it from scratch. This is where it all started.

Building a custom floating home in Sausalito from scratch takes more than most people expect. Ten years of permits, a cross-bay tow, and a sleepless night before launch. This is how it came together.