S2E26: Bob Isaacson and Ginny Stearns (Part of our San Francisco Houseboats Series)

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

Before there was the ballpark where the Giants play ... before the elevated I-280 freeway ... before most of the northeastern half of what we call the Mission District ... before the Gold Rush, there was Mission Bay. It was fed by many sources, the biggest of which was Mission Creek, which flowed over waterfalls down from Twin Peaks, by Mission Dolores, and down into the bay. Today, all that's left of that creek is what some call McCovey Cove. But to the residents of a couple dozen houseboats, it's Mission Creek.

In Part 1, houseboat residents Ginny Stearns and Bob Isaacson talk about founding many of the preservation groups that have worked with the government and developers to protect their little corner of the city. Bob and Ginny talk about moving to San Francisco, the various work they did before moving into their houseboat, and how the area around Mission Creek has changed dramatically.

​No living situation is permanent, especially in San Francisco. The residents of the houseboats on Mission Creek, which are nestled amid one of the hottest areas of development in the city, are always are aware of this.

In Part 2, Ginny and Bob talk about their efforts to secure their homes on the water, the only such dwellings in San Francisco. Bob talks about a couple of books he's been a part of publishing that cover the history of Mission Bay and Mission Creek as well as efforts to preserve the environment in those areas. They talk about how they met and Ginny's move to their houseboat. And Bob ends the podcast declaring that the houseboat community has been beneficial to the area.

If you missed them, please go back and listen to Sarah Davis's podcasts.

We recorded this podcast at Ginny and Bob's houseboat in April 2019.