At 42, Vincent* lives in Port Saint-Georges in Nancy. He acquired a houseboat there in 2021 in which he lives all year round. A lifestyle that he adopted without much difficulty. “I feel like I live the opposite of people. I will buy a house with a garden that I can maintain when I retire”he jokes. However, before investing in a boat, the idea had never crossed his mind. At that time, Vincent was the tenant of a “small apartment” in Lyon and feels the desire for a change of scenery. Although he planned to become an owner, he quickly realized that acquiring property in the City of Lights was beyond his financial means, even when looking in the outskirts. “I made an appointment with my bank to find out how much I could borrow. Once the amount was defined, I entered it by carrying out my search on the Leboncoin purchase and sale site. » It turns out that the only offer that will emerge from this search turns out to be a barge in Nancy.
“My first reaction was to say “certainly not””he remembers, today comfortably installed in his floating house. After several days, he finally reconsidered his first impression and let the idea mature. Living on a barge is more in line with your lifestyle. Indeed, Vincent is on the move. “Let’s say I move about every three years. Starting from scratch, taking on new challenges, I love that. Especially since I hadn’t set a destination when doing my research. » So, being able to move with your house turned out to be a good solution. “I figured that would solve the problem from a practical point of view. » Completely foreign to the maritime world, Vincent passed his boating license before settling down. “I did my lessons on the Rhône, at the confluence with the Saône river… I can tell you that there was a lot of current. » The Nancy canal must seem very calm in comparison.
Minimalist and economical
However, you have to be a minimalist to live on a boat, he concedes. Inside, his only furniture is his sofas, his bed, a coffee table, a dining table and his kitchen furniture, apart from the household appliances.
“It’s a good compromise for people with small incomes, like me. »
Vincent, resident of Port Saint-Georges in Nancy.
No wardrobe or chest of drawers, you have to make do with cupboards built into the walls as the only storage space. “Luckily, I’m not a materialistic person so it suits me. » Besides this detail, living on a houseboat has advantages, particularly economically. “It’s a good compromise for people with low incomes, like me, because you don’t pay property tax. » It is also a much more easily accessible item for purchase. “As the boat is equipped with a motor, it is movable property and not real estate. This is done a bit like buying a car, there are only a few administrative procedures to complete. » No more notary fees.
He still wants to brush aside some preconceived ideas. “Living on a boat does not mean absolute freedom. I can’t settle anywhere or move around as I want because I have to follow the channels. » Precisely, the question of location is beginning to arise, due to the work planned by the municipality in the Saint-Georges port, forcing its residents to leave by the summer of 2025. Apart from the location located in the neighborhood of the Three Houses, the nearest port is in Toul.
Closer to nature
Living on a houseboat also means being close to nature. “When I came to visit before buying, I looked out the window and a swan was passing by at the same time. When I told myself that this was going to be my daily view, I was immediately won over”he remembers. If the ballet of ducks, cormorants and other birds constitutes a real pleasure that Vincent appreciates, you sometimes have to know how to deal with some unexpected events. Particularly in summer, during the carp reproduction period. “To be fertilized, the females come and settle on flat surfaces, in this case under the barges, while waiting for a male to literally crash into them. The first time, I was woken up in the middle of the night by a loud “boom”. It made me really funny. »
