Whether you call them floating homes or houseboats, the residences on Richardson Bay have a wonderfully magical, and worldwide appeal.

Marin is lucky to have a number of communities with floating homes and one of the most celebrated collections is in Sausalito.

The houseboats which number in the hundreds, range from simple cottages to rather ornate domiciles. Residents run the gamut from water lovers to celebrities. In fact, singer Otis Redding composed the hit 60s pop song Sitting By The Dock Of The Bay while living on a Sausalito houseboat in 1967.

If you were ever curious about what it's like to live on top of the water, now's your chance to find out.

Click here to read more, and view more photos of the floating homes.

(Photos in this story were provided by FHA and were taken by floating home resident, Ric Miller.)