OUR NEW HOUSEBOAT ON THE SACRAMENTO DELTA

Was it meant to be? We looked at a lot of boats and moorages but ended up buying the boat that inspired me to think of houseboats. Go figure! It was in the movie, “Murder By the Numbers” starring Sandra Bullock. It is a Masterfab pontoon houseboat, 14 feet by 47 feet and all on one level. It was built in 1983 but has been completely rebuilt: new redwood deck around the entire boat; new vinyl roofing; new exterior and interior paint; new counters, sinks and faucets; new appliances and window coverings; new ceiling, new big barbecue. It has a Volvo I/O motor and a generator. Instead of the usual ladder to the top deck, it has a great spiral staircase.

We have moved the huge table that was inside out on the front deck and will buy a smaller table for inside. There are four built-in bunks that we will tear out. One area will be made into a big closet and the other will probably be turned into an office. There is a walk-in pantry to which we’ll add more shelves. Fortunately, Zoe’s son is excited about helping us with the remodeling and our next door neighbor at the marina is the cousin of the former owner and helped do the current remodeling on the boat. He is a general contractor and has been very helpful.

We can get Direct TV installed as we are in an open slip. We hadn’t been happy with any of the moorages we looked at until we saw this one. We didn’t want to be undercover in a shed and this one has a nice view. The connected marina has all kinds of marine stuff , a Laundromat and there is a huge storage area where we can store our RV when not in use.

As if things couldn’t get any better, we are a little over two miles from I-5 and there is a shopping center there with a Loew’s for our building supplies, a Panerra Bakery for my bagels, a Starbuck’s for my Sunday mocha, our banks, a Target for odds and ends and lots of other handy stores. Who could ask for more? We are very happy.