CNN had an article today suggesting that the key to surviving global warming is for everyone to live on a houseboat. After all, if your home can float, it can't flood. Er, well as long as your sump pump doesn't break down. Or you spring a leak.
Actually I can't really throw stones at the idea. Building houses in increasingly broad flood plains that can't tolerate the water isn't a great idea. The article also proposes building regular houses designed to withstand floods (by making the lower floors essentially water and mold-proof). Either way, it sounds like a decent idea.
It is a little weird though how the article describes houseboats' flexible piping as some kind of cutting-edge technology. I've already got some flexible pipes outside my window right now, bringing us our water and gas...
Still, houseboats aren't necessarily a panacea. Things can still happen to them, which is why you still need insurance. I had a hard time getting it when I moved here last year because my regular insurance company was having problems with insuring a home not attached to the ground. Eventually I found one of the few companies that wrote such policies and was all set, although it was kind of expensive. The good news is though that I just got my renewal and my rates have dropped. The bad news? It seems I'm no longer covered for volcano...