Anchorages in New Orleans / Lake Pontchartrain?

[CamWrenRoo]

Hello everyone -
My family and I are looking for a good place to live on the hook in the New Orleans area... We are still debating on location, so I'm looking at the pros and cons of the New Orleans area. We would only be there in the late fall / winter / early spring. Back in NC for the summers.
Are there good anchorages near the city? If so, where are they?
Overall, is New Orleans a good choice for a liveaboard family?
Any thoughts would be appreciated!!

[Star0210]

I'm not sure about New Orleans but Marina Beau Chene on the Tchefuncte River on the northshore in Mandeville is very nice and there are quite a few liveaboards there.
We just bought our boat and that's where our slip is. Everybody we've met so far has been super friendly and helpful.

[Stumble]

Do you want to live on the hook or in a slip? There is nowhere I know of in or close to New Orleans that is sutable for anchoring long term, even overnight is questionable. If you are ok in the slip, then South Shore Marina is probably your best best, rates are reasonable and they have a big liveaboard contingent. The Orleans Marine is happy to have liveaboards, but the wait list for a slip is a couple of years last time I checked.

[CamWrenRoo]

Thanks for your input guys!
Our other option is Florida, somewhere in the southern keys, most definitely on the hook / mooring field. I'm not of fan of paying for something I could have for free!! We will bucket shower on board, will haul our water in via dinghy, and we are currently in the process of installing solar. We plan on being pretty darn independent...
The other big appeal of the keys - free pumpout services
How about opinions on the keys? Any thoughts? I'm especially interested in feedback from people working in the restaurant business down there. Any servers working there? Is it competitive? How are the tips?