"I know my neighbors," Stern said. "And they are from all walks of life and income levels. My neighbors live on motor yachts, houseboats and sailboats. There is a real sense of community."

It's easy to drop the kayak into the water and go for a paddle, or take the dinghy out for an afternoon sail, Stern said.

Stern has gotten used to the drawbacks during almost 10 years on the water.

Low tide — which means hiking up a steeper dock ramp to the parking lot — usually happens when there are groceries to haul, Stern said.

A boat often doesn't gain in value, while a house probably will.

And the propane tank will run out of gas in the middle of cooking dinner — until you learn to have another one handy.

But life becomes delightfully simple out on the water.

"I live with a 20-hanger closet, and you learn really quickly that stuff has to go somewhere," Stern said. "I've become a really good window shopper."

It's hard to find a liveaboard who is pining for land.

Sydney and Annie Buelt want more space for their toys and books. To get by, Sydney has created little mesh hammocks for her Beanie Babies.

Stern wishes she had more room for baking.

But Marsh just wishes he had started living on a boat sooner in life.

"I don't think I can ever go back to living on dry land," he said. "Not till they carry me off the boat and bury me someplace."

Bob and Shari Buelt look at their lives just a few years ago and then see what they have now.

There are fewer things — and many more moments of beauty and closeness.

"We don't watch television, but the girls row the dinghy to the beach when we're cruising, and we're all closer now than before," Bob Buelt said.

"You have to love the water to love this," Shari said. "And we love all of it."

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(c) 2009, The Olympian (Olympia, Wash.).