float someone’s boat—(coll.) said of smth. that excites or interests a person:
- He describes himself as a music addict—music theatre, in particular, really floats his boat.
paddle one’s own canoe —(also: hoe one’s own row) be independent; follow one’s interests or inclination:
- The Labor Party wished, as it were, to paddle its own canoe—to build in Britain a show-house of democratic socialism.
Note: The expression does not correlate in meaning with the phrase blow one’s own trumpet—(also: ring one’s own bell) announce one’s own successes; praise oneself:
- Jim is very good at blowing his own trumpet: to listen to him, one would think he was the only man who could do the job.