Now it has suddenly become winter. One morning you woke up to snow and sub-zero temperatures. (You should get used to it, but you are always surprised, haha.) We often get questions about what it is like to live in a houseboat in the winter. Is it cold? Is it slippery? Does the water freeze? Is it lonely? We'll try to answer ...
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Is it cold?
Is it cold to live in a houseboat in winter? No, it's not cold at all. At least not indoors. We have insulated walls and ceilings and have triple-glazed windows. On the lower deck and in the living room we have heated floors, and in the kitchen, hall and bathroom we have radiators. We also have an air source heat pump. Yes, and we also have a stove. But when we make a fire in it, it is usually for hot ...
Is it slippery?
Of course, there can be snow and ice on the docks, but on weekdays the staff at Pampas marina plough and sand.
Is the water freezing?
No, the water doesn't freeze because we live in an ice-free marina. There are large propellers in the water that make it never freeze! This means that some boats (not just the houseboats) actually stay in all year round.
Is it lonely?
Here in Pampas marina There are 40 houseboats and all are occupied all year round by couples, singles or families so no, it's not lonely. In addition, we have a restaurant here that is open all year round, a whole bunch of businesses located in the marina and the marina staff who work on weekdays.
So no, it's not the least bit lonely! And remember that we live a few hundred metres from Kungsholmen and from the metro... In the middle of the city but still close to nature!
... and then all the animals
Even though we live close to the city and the metro, there are a lot of animals here. As usual, the ducks and herons hang out here in the marina. On the way to the bus/subway we also go through a small "forest". It doesn't take many minutes to walk through that "forest" so to speak, but you almost always have time to meet some rabbits or a squirrel. Last Friday I also ran into the guy in the picture below.
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Mr Steve says:
There's no doubt that you enjoy your houseboat even in winter. And you seem to have most things in your neighbourhood. And then some. Have a nice winter!
09 November 2016 - 6:42
Marina says:
It really does sound amazing - and so different in the midst of 'normality'.
09 November 2016 - 7:01
anita wåg agrimanaki says:
I think it sounds really nice!
09 November 2016 - 8:28
Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:
That sounds excellent! You undeniably have the best of several worlds. 🙂
09 November 2016 - 8:41
admin says:
Steve, we're having a great time! Although today we woke up to crazy winter weather with wet snow all over the place (and other shocking news).
Marina, yes, it is not very common to live in a houseboat, although there is a small group of houseboats in Stockholm.
Anita, it IS cosy 🙂
Anna, yes, we think so. I absolutely want to live near the city, but it still feels like you have nature close by!
Lennart, it is! Even though it's really horrible winter weather today with lots of wet snow across the board ... 😉.
09 November 2016 - 8:57
Emelie says:
Thank you please! Nice that the blog can still live on 🙂 I also follow you, thought I did it already! Isn't it wonderful with the snow now? Absolutely fantastic!
09 November 2016 - 9:42
Lennart says:
Seems like a comfortable life!
09 November 2016 - 8:53
Ama de casa says:
What lovely accommodation you have! 🙂
09 November 2016 - 10:21
Goatfish says:
It seems to be a fantastic accommodation. Much more comfortable than living in a caravan all year round. Certainly a lovely alternative accommodation 😀.
A bit like how I live, given the proximity to everything. I'm close to the shops and have a view of the campsite and Lake Vänern.
09 November 2016 - 10:25
Hasse says:
You probably have an efficient stove, burn a little more carefully. Happens at our house too, sometimes you want to burn a little too much. Enjoy!
09 November 2016 - 10:53
Johan Persson says:
I've also been asked several times if it's cold and if it's lonely when I've said I've lived in a caravan.
It looks so cosy to live in a houseboat too :)
09 November 2016 - 10:54
nils-åke says:
Very cosy 40 houseboats are like their own little community. Have you thought about whether there are many curious people who just come by and want to look?
09 November 2016 - 12:07
åsa in åsele says:
For some reason, living in a houseboat during the winter feels more exotic than living in a houseboat during the summer. It is probably the same with living in a caravan all year round, there are those who thrive and like it as well 🙂.
I actually have no idea as I have never been on a houseboat and only seen pictures from you... but it certainly looks cosy.
09 November 2016 - 14:20
BP says:
I wonder if you would have written the same text tonight, after 40 cm of snow fell today;-)
Then I laughed at the "lirar". A perfect description if you don't know what "breed" it is:-) It has horns so it can hardly be a deer. As you can see, I don't know either, but I'm quite sure that some parts of it would have tasted great with some potato gratin;-)
09 November 2016 - 16:28
Across the board says:
But sweetheart.... Bambi shouldn't be running around like that in town.....
I understand that you are enjoying yourself 🙂
09 November 2016 - 17:16
Ruth in Virginia says:
I enjoy reading this blog very much.
even though I could never imagine living on a boat.
or in a caravan. I would feel trapped, if it wasn't...
would be possible to walk around indoors. And I want a
farm around me.
I am and remain a faithful reader of FREEDOM Travel.
You learn a lot; it's important when you get to the top
at a certain age. 🙂
09 November 2016 - 17:30
Stare Current says:
How cosy you have it! I could also imagine living like that.
09 November 2016 - 19:05
Åse says:
What a lovely accommodation looks super cosy. Åse
09 November 2016 - 19:20
admin says:
Emelie, the snow is beautiful! But I have spent many hours today travelling back and forth to work ... 😉.
Geddfish, if nothing else, it is significantly larger than a caravan. You also seem to live super well with both nature and shops nearby!
Hasse, yes, that's probably the case 😉.
Johan, interesting that you also get those questions! We get them quite often 😉 .
Nils-Åke, in the summer, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, there can be a lot of people walking on the piers. At this time of year there are not so many.
Åsa in Åsele, yes we get many more questions about living here in the winter than in the summer, so there are probably many who perceive it as more exotic then 😉 Summer is perhaps the most beautiful, but I like the winter here too!
BP, haha, I laugh a little when I read your comment. What snowy weather it has been today! We have taken a lot of photos so they will come out tomorrow morning 😉.
Ruth in Virginia, we are so happy that you like to read our blog 🙂 The boat is quite large anyway, about 75 sqm living space + patio so it is significantly larger than a caravan / motorhome. But we don't have a yard 😉.
Stare Ström, houseboat is cosy 🙂 .
Åse, super cosy we think 🙂 .
09 November 2016 - 19:37
Matts Torebring says:
It looks a bit cold after all. Of course, I don't think you are cold inside. I think many people shiver when they see us living in the motorhome in twenty degrees of cold. We're not cold either.
09 November 2016 - 20:36
Husis blog says:
It must be wonderful to live in the boat during all seasons as all seasons have their charm. To follow the animal world with both "Bambi", birds etc. must be cosy.
09 November 2016 - 21:07
Lena in Wales says:
I think it sounds like a very nice accommodation.
Saw a picture of my granddaughter in Stockholm today in the snow, oops. Apparently the buses were not running either and it seemed a bit chaotic.
Things are a bit different here in Spain.
09 November 2016 - 22:03
Tia says:
You live in an absolutely marvellous place. Visited the area opposite this summer, by bike. What a view you have!
09 November 2016 - 23:10
Christine's Stories says:
Wow what a nice deer! It also doesn't sound like there is any distress there. Seems pretty cosy to live in a houseboat.
09 November 2016 - 23:16
admin says:
Matts, right? If you were to freeze in the motorhome in a certain season, you would hardly go out with it ... And we would hardly live like this if it was not possible to heat the boat 😉.
Husisblog, the seasonal variations have their charm!
Lena in Wales, there were many buses not running yesterday... and consequently many people out walking!
Tia, Hornsberg beach on the other side has really become nice so yes, the view from here is fantastic! 🙂
Christine's Stories, no need to worry about us 😉 Have fun!
10 November 2016 - 8:41
Motorhome Helge says:
Oh how cosy it is to crawl indoors with a warming fire and the snow outside!
10 November 2016 - 21:35