Houseboat Living in Earthquake Country

Last week’s early morning (3:39 a.m.) earthquake, which roused some floating home residents from a deep sleep, is a reminder that we are definitely on Terra Non Firma. The December 17 temblor was centered in El Cerrito—only 10 miles away—and was measured at a magnitude 3.6. The tide was about...

Unsinkable Annie Sprinkle

In 1999, a fire destroyed the waterfront home of one of Sausalito’s more colorful residents: former porn star and prostitute Annie Sprinkle. Her home was located in Varda Landing, near the ferry Vallejo. In a fundraising appeal posted on Compuserve immediately after the fire, a friend of Annie’s wrote: “Thankfully,...

Holiday Gift Ideas

Looking for holiday gifts that reflect our lifestyle? Check out the Boatload of Books section of this newsletter. You’ll find notices of publications by current and former residents as well as select books about our floating homes. Categories include fiction, non-fiction, history, memoirs, poetry and children’s books, so you’re sure to find...

She Sang in Our Sunshine

Vocalist, writer and actress Gale Garnett was born in New Zealand, but became a local fixture in Sausalito’s hippie heyday. In 1964, Gale scored a Top Five pop hit with her original composition “We’ll Sing in the Sunshine,” which won her a Grammy for Best Folk Recording. Five years later...

Not Their First Rodeo

On October 8, four old hands from East Pier decided to mosey on over to the Cow Palace for the Grand National Rodeo. They report having a good time, but would not disclose which one of them wrestled the champion bull to the ground and walked away with the grand...

Woman Warrior of the Waterfront

Catherine Lyons-Labate’s beautiful, informative book beams out to the world the joy that is found within our waterfront community. If her photographs could actually make music, we would have the soundtrack to life on the water for her and the other lucky folks who blossomed here. Not sure the world...

Cool Jazz for a Heat Wave

Sausalito celebrated one year of free First Wednesday al fresco concerts on September 7 with a performance by West Coast Cool Jazz. The mercury was nudging 90 when the 8-piece band kicked off a 90-minute set, but a crowd still gathered at Cascais Plaza. According to NPR,  the West Coast...

6 ½ Goes Bicoastal

When I first moved to Gate 6 ½, I thought I had one of the most unique addresses on the planet. Indeed, it caused confusion at the Sausalito Post Office and in computer programs all over the world. But just recently my stepdaughter Jennifer sent me a photo of 6½...

Proposed New Home Triggers Petition on Issaquah

Approximately 90 residents of Issaquah Dock signed a petition to the Marin County Board of Supervisors and the management of Waldo Point Harbor expressing their concerns about a proposed home swap there. Here’s the precise wording of the petition: From the undersigned residents of Issaquah Dock, Sausalito Requesting our voices...