Michael Smith: 14-foot canoe is his home

A man in Boston says the one constant in his life is his canoe.
 
Michael Smith lives in it.

He doesn't stay in one place for very long, but has managed to get the U-S Coast Guard's attention.

They say as long as Smith isn't doing anything illegal and stays in public waters-- he's okay.

When asked why he likes a canoe instead of something else, he says it's about being practical.
 
"Canoe works. I'm able to carry more pounds of gear than I would if I was walking around with a backpack," he says."

He adds, "People have to do what they have to do to survive and you gotta have some self esteem to make it. You gotta allow people to keep their dignity."
 
Though some may find Smith's lifestyle intolerable, he says he hopes it brings attention to the needs of the homeless.