During the Great Depression, Steinbeck bought a small boat, and later claimed that he was able to live on the fish and crab that he gathered from the sea, and fresh vegetables from his garden and local farms.
Under depressionen købte Steinbeck en lille båd og hævdede senere, at han havde været i stand til at leve af de fisk og krabber, han fangede i havet, sammen med friske grønsager fra egen have og de lokale gårde.