I go on an annual houseboating trip with a group of friends. “Annual” might be a bit of a stretch… we aim to go every year, but there are frequently gaps. This was the first one since 2001, I think. This year’s trip was happily catastrophe-free, as we didn’t lose any propellers or passengers, and we didn’t run out of beer. Here are some recommendations for other houseboaters…

+ Lake Don Pedro. Reasonably attractive. Not a lot of submerged trees to lose propellers on. Closer than Shasta. Less crowded than Shasta. Warmer than Shasta.

+ Houseboats with hot tubs. We got a 65′ houseboat from the Mocassin Point Marina, which had a hot tub and wet bar on the top. Next year, we’re in the 70′ version (with a bigger hot tub).

+ Aqua Roller. This is a big inflatable hamster wheel that’s about 5 feet in diameter. You can use it to do forward somersaults and have copious amounts of lake water dumped on your head. You can put it on its side so that it forms a fortress from which to shoot people with your Super Soaker. You can lounge in it and be shaded by the top of the wheel.

What you can’t do is let it go. Unattended, it turns into a giant sail, and even with a light breeze, can move across the lake much faster than you can swim. Ideally, you want to use it when the wind is blowing into your cove and not out into the lake at large.

+ Inflatable beer cooler. The best damn purchase I’ve ever made. It’s stable, it zips shut, and it keeps you from having to tow your innertube back to the boat for refills.

+ Lots of other floaty things. Noodles are good for hot days, but it takes a little bit of skill to balance your beer on one end. Rafts with cup holders are easier, but keep you completely out of the water. Innertubes are a nice compromise.

+ Corona. With lots of lime. I don’t drink it at any other time of the year, but it is just the right choice for a houseboat setting.