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As a kid in Minnesota that was always my dream. (Well - to float DOWN the Mississippi). I might still have the various drawings I made at the age of ten(?) of various “boats” that I was going to build. Various storage compartments, fold down platforms for a table/bed. I recall a design for a submersible fort in the local pond! Fun stuff to dream about as a kid. (We did build a regular raft for the pond, and a huge fort in our backyard.) Fun times.

I think that the cheap “tiny homes” that I've seen volunteers build for the homeless have a lot of merit. Of course you still have the land-use issues.

In the Seattle area they have “tent cities” that will spend a few months on a church property, and then go to another property. They are self governed and no increase in crime or other stuff. Very strict on alcohol and drug use. We used to go and make meals (we would buy the supplies, cook and serve the people). Many were just temporarily down on their luck and could use the hand up.

Although one guy I spoke with, and one of the main leaders of the camp, told me he didn't have to be homeless - he didn't want to work because then he would have to pay taxes for things he didn't agree with! (obama years too.) “Well, I'm guessing nobody agrees with everything the government spends our money on. Like me paying for people like you that just chose not to work!”

We quit helping out after that.