Wet snow across the board one day and glorious sunshine the next. Today we have sun again, and this is when we enjoy how fantastic we think it is to live in a marina. Living in a houseboat is a slightly different kind of accommodation. It's not just about the houseboat itself, but perhaps primarily about what's around it: the water, the boats, the ducks and all the other houseboats.
The view from the houseboat
We have a total of 19 windows in the houseboat, so we really have views in all directions. Inland, we look towards Västra skogen in Solna, and then of course we see the marina and the four piers. At two of the piers are houseboats, ranging from Aquavillas (floating villas) of various sizes to Villa Voyager (oblong small floating homes) and houseboats of various kinds.
On the other side we have a view of Hornsberg beach on Kungsholmen in Stockholm. On nice days, it's a bit difficult to stay full actually!
Company of ducks
At certain times of the year, we have swans here, and we also have an heron who like to stand and philosophise on the docks. Those who hang out here most are the ducks. They gather in large flocks or swim around in pairs. They are here at all times of the year, but in winter they are probably the most numerous.
Since we live in a ice-free marina (well, almost) it seems that everyone chooses to spend the winter right here. They usually gather in large clusters and hang out wherever there is an ice edge they can stand on. Are there any animals where you live?
Lennart says:
Different and nice accommodation, indeed!
26 February 2017 - 7:34
admin says:
We really enjoy it! It's hard to imagine anything else now 😉 .
26 February 2017 - 12:52
Mr Steve says:
It is a very special and beautiful environment you live in. I like the fact that the marina is always so well organised.
Isn't it nice to have animals close by? Here at Getingstorp we have regular visits from moose, deer, foxes, hares, squirrels and lots of different birds of course. If we're lucky, a hedgehog will join us during the summer months. Then we see traces of other animals that do not like to show themselves during the day.
26 February 2017 - 8:04
admin says:
Wonderful with all the animals you have close by!!! You can try to capture them in pictures and make a wildlife report ?
26 February 2017 - 12:48
Lena - good for the soul says:
Truly a fantastic living environment! Gosh, how lovely. Except for the rocking then 🙂 I would probably feel sick constantly.
I have a small stream in the park next to where I live. It's full of ducks too.
Hug Lena
26 February 2017 - 8:08
admin says:
It usually moves very little, but when the wind blows it can sway a little ?
26 February 2017 - 12:49
Motorhome Helge says:
Fantastic environment, especially when the sun sparkles on the water's edge or the ice. Unfortunately we don't have many accommodations of this type on the west coast, but we have plenty of seagulls.
26 February 2017 - 8:42
admin says:
The sun always makes a big difference! ?
26 February 2017 - 12:49
Matts Torebring says:
People have always looked for places to live, as close to water as possible. You have gone one step further. You live in the water. Wrong! You live on the water. Usually all views with water are beautiful, including yours.
26 February 2017 - 8:52
admin says:
Agree with you, views with water are often beautiful!
26 February 2017 - 12:50
Elin is travelling says:
I love that you live on a houseboat! I would love to do that too.
19 windows, wow! 🙂
Beautiful pictures, the last one of the ducks I like very much!
26 February 2017 - 10:07
admin says:
We also love living on a houseboat ? After moving here, it's hard to imagine anything else?
26 February 2017 - 12:50
Marina says:
You really have a different and cool accommodation!
26 February 2017 - 10:11
admin says:
You don't think about it every day, but it's not really that common 😉.
26 February 2017 - 12:53
Ama de casa says:
Cosy with the ducks! 🙂
Here we have grey sparrows jumping around on the terrace. A bit funny too, actually. And the occasional pigeon lands, but I shoo them away when I see them.
Then there was a cockroach outside the door a few weeks ago. Not nearly as funny... Luckily he (?) was lying with his legs in the air 🙂 🙂
I have said it before and say it again - you live so fantastically nice! 🙂
26 February 2017 - 10:11
admin says:
Grey sparrows are nice, but I can do without cockroaches ...
26 February 2017 - 12:50
Goatfish says:
Fantastic! What a view 😀 can't compare to this. Man is drawn to water, for sure. And I would think the rocking would be nice sleepwalking 😉 Nice bird pictures, especially the last one 😀.
Since I live quite close to Lake Vänern, I see a lot of birds. Sometimes a hare runs very fast in the residential park too. And there are plenty of dogs here. In my stairwell there is only one, but he sounds like ten sometimes.
Skyline Sunday hug!
26 February 2017 - 10:25
admin says:
Yes, I think it's quite pleasant when it rocks gently, then you fall asleep well ?
26 February 2017 - 12:51
Lena says:
Amazingly beautiful accommodation, great with no ice so you can fish sometimes for domestic use? Do you also pay "houseboat tax"? That is, the equivalent of which we villa residents pay annual "property tax both state + municipal".
26 February 2017 - 10:51
admin says:
According to the Swedish Tax Agency we are "small houses on unoccupied land" so yes, we pay property tax. We have tried fishing once, and we didn't get a bite? But we have seen several other people fishing here and who also got a bite!
26 February 2017 - 12:51
Emma, sun like sun? says:
I laughed when you said it was your grill in the bow. My spontaneous thought was a hunting boat of some kind and with machine guns in the bow! It was probably the slightly military tone that made me think along those lines, probably the light is also playing tricks on me.
How often do you have to take your boat out of the water? Or can you maintain the hull by diving?
26 February 2017 - 10:57
admin says:
Haha, it would be a good defence to have a machine gun in the bow...! ? We should ideally lift it up every seven years or so, and the last time it was up was in 2014.
26 February 2017 - 12:52
Ditte says:
Surely it is delicious to live by the water and you live on the lake and very beautiful views around. Nice to follow the changing seasons so closely... I smile when I see the houses up there on the hill in Solna because I have lived there for a few years and then the Marina was in its infancy.
I really like the real houseboats, whether they are movable or not, but I have difficulty with the aqua villas which look like boxes to me.
We live a bit up in the house on our quay but there are 15 windows so we can see the water and it still feels close, but of course we have solid ground under our feet. We have sailed a lot so we like the boat life.
We have the seabirds outside and Saltsjön is here usually ice-free so there are plenty of them all seasons and a free pleasure they have is to get out and in through the lock. An occasional heron and even sea eagle (from Fjäderholmarna) can pass. However, I am happy to export the seagulls.
Really nice pictures and the view is never boring or monotonous.
26 February 2017 - 11:10
admin says:
Have you lived there? Then I understand that you feel a bit at home 😉 I also understand that it looked completely different in the marina at that time!!!!
26 February 2017 - 12:46
LinizTravel says:
Really different! But beautiful pictures! Have a nice Sunday hugs
26 February 2017 - 11:29
admin says:
Thank you very much! 🙂
26 February 2017 - 12:47
Renate's travels says:
How cosy and nice you have it! I could definitely imagine living on a houseboat 🙂 It would be fun to have a house that you can transport around depending on where you want to live! There are not so many ducks outside the house I live in, but every now and then moose come wandering by 😉.
26 February 2017 - 12:09
admin says:
Moose are even more exotic! 🙂 We cannot drive our houseboat, but we can of course tow it to a new place if we want to 😉.
26 February 2017 - 12:48
Rico says:
Animals are plentiful, and have been so throughout my journey. Most are four-legged pets... You know, the dog. Just today, several of them are enjoying themselves by hunting/playing with some pigeons that are cleaning up the last breadcrumbs from yesterday's events that took place at the motorhomes here in the car park in SanRemo.
Last week I had three parrots as a view, they hung nicely in cages outside the neighbour's car and were quite soothing to sit and watch?
Motorhomes and animals are a clear link for many people.
Wishing you also a nice Sunday afternoon
26 February 2017 - 13:32
Helena says:
Dogs are popular in motorhomes. Sometimes we have almost felt "unusual" not having a dog in the motorhome, haha. Hope everything is fine with you? Fun to follow your journey 🙂
26 February 2017 - 13:52
Rico says:
Agreed, you feel a bit 'unusual'.
Everything is ?
Thank you, ? it is warming as you know that I was hesitant to write ....? It's crazy how fast it has gone, but new plans are underway?
26 February 2017 - 14:17
Helena says:
Our journey also went so fast, it feels like ... while it was long in a way. Time is a funny phenomenon 😉 What are the plans going on? *Curious*
26 February 2017 - 17:03
Aila says:
It seems wonderful to live like that. Have always dreamed of living on a boat. Thank you for letting us see your home and surroundings.
26 February 2017 - 13:39
Helena says:
I had hardly thought about living on a boat before we moved here, but now I can hardly imagine anything else 😉.
26 February 2017 - 13:55
Husis blog says:
Wonderful pictures and what it seems also a wonderful accommodation! My owners always try to take me as close to the sea as possible and I almost only go where there is water. So with your accommodation and FREEDOM, can it get any better...?. Wishing you a good Sunday
26 February 2017 - 14:18
Helena says:
We do the same thing when we're out with the motorhome - head for the water! Even though we live by water at home 😉
26 February 2017 - 17:04
Lena in Wales says:
I have heard about the big changes in the weather in Sweden over the last few days.
You really live beautifully!
Wishing you a nice Sunday evening!
26 February 2017 - 17:32
Helena says:
As usual, it is important to appreciate the good weather, because you never know how long it will last 😉.
27 February 2017 - 6:02
BP says:
Fantastic views from your beautiful houseboat - and all year round too. Given the wide range of animals in your neighbourhood, you won't have to get pets either;-)
There is actually a deer and a hare with very long legs as well as birds such as blackbirds, swallows, magpies and the occasional seagull. Dogs that go on a leash and walk with their owners and actually a labelled cat that likes to walk around the courtyard. In other words - we also get rid of pets;-)
PS. The kidney warmer sign is finally up. DS.
26 February 2017 - 17:41
Helena says:
Stockholm seems like a zoo ... And it's a bit lucky that we don't have to get pets. I do like animals, but it's a bit messy when you're travelling all the time. Will immediately check out the kidney warmer 😉.
26 February 2017 - 19:14
Across the board says:
You live really nicely! Water around you is wonderfully soothing (most of the time).
Hugs
26 February 2017 - 18:12
Helena says:
Water can be dramatic too 😉 But I agree, water is good for the soul somehow!
26 February 2017 - 19:15
Anki says:
You really live absolutely fantastic - and you have nice company too 🙂 We have a bird table outside the kitchen window and it is nice to sit and watch all the different diners there. In addition to the birds, we often have visits from both fallow deer and roe deer ... and of course we see traces of some other animals as well ....
26 February 2017 - 19:58
Helena says:
Fallow deer sounds a bit exotic! And birds are always nice 🙂 .
26 February 2017 - 21:00
gun says:
Really a different accommodation but nice. What a view you have!
The pictures you have taken are very nice. If you live in the countryside, 100 metres from the sea, there are plenty of animals here:)....
gun
26 February 2017 - 20:48
Helena says:
Glad you like our pictures! The view is grateful to photograph if you say so 😉 Understand that you have wildlife so close to work!
26 February 2017 - 21:01
Deciree says:
You live in a really beautiful place 🙂
26 February 2017 - 21:00
Mrs Anne-Marie says:
Exciting living environment. Not bad with 19 windows. 🙂
I find different types of housing interesting and a houseboat is definitely one of them.
Nice also with ducks.
27 February 2017 - 6:06
Inga Magnusson says:
I'm glad you're still enjoying living on a houseboat. I thought you would get tired because you were used to living in a nice apartment. In Västra Skogen the son lived in a student flat for a year, so we have been there a few times. He then lived on Kungsholmen's Igeldammsgatan for a couple of years, the first flat, and then he moved around the peninsula before Vasastan. At the end of March I will be in Stockholm for a week with quite a lot of free time. I have the ambition to try to walk out to your Marina and check the situation, see if I can discover your boat. It is a bit special so it should be possible. Have a good day!
27 February 2017 - 18:28
Beppan says:
It looks so nice to live like that. As long as there are the necessary amenities like running hot and cold water and a toilet ....
We stayed on a houseboat on Dal Lake in Srinagar in India - Kashmir Valley for a few days many years ago. Had a house the year we spent there and in Pakistan, but had to try the houseboat life. Interesting and comfortable - we didn't have to cook, clean or anything else, just enjoy.
28 February 2017 - 10:28
Christine - 29°. says:
Lovely accommodation. 🙂
01 March 2017 - 5:16