Michael Richard Smith steadies his canoe at a wharf in Boston Harbor, in Boston, Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012.

BOSTON (AP) - They say no man is an island, but Michael Richard Smith has been creating his own floating homes in Boston Harbor.

The Coast Guard and Boston police are keeping an eye on the unconventional camper who's recently been tying his canoe to small offshore docks in the harbor and pitching his tent to sleep at night.

They say he's sticking to recreational zones and isn't breaking any laws.

Smith, a 49-year-old Maine native, says he's been paddling metro Boston waters and bunking up in his 14-foot aluminum canoe since October.

Smith detests the term "homeless" and says he's just another "fellow citizen."

Police gave him a life vest and told him not to operate his canoe at night, since it has no lights.

Authorities say they'll continue to check on Smith's safety.