Welcome to my summer vacation, where the humidity level has risen into the 90% range and my productivity level has fallen to darn near zero. But it’s not a complete wash. When the kids take over my office, I forge a hasty retreat to my hammock. And even though the wireless network reaches to the furthest reaches of my backyard, I leave the laptop behind …

Nothing clears the mind like quality time spent in a backyard hammock.

Could there be any more relaxing way to spend a lazy summer afternoon at home? There’s something magical about hanging out in the suspended gravity. You can almost feel those troubles float away as the summer breeze whispers through the trees.

The money spent on a good hammock just might be, dollar-for-dollar, the best money you can spend for backyard relaxation. Unlike many other more expensive backyard improvements, a hammock can be enjoyed almost instantly, and when well cared for, it can last for many seasons. If you don’t have two sturdy trees to hang a hammock, a stand will let you enjoy a state of suspended animation anywhere you darn please.

My hammock sits in a shady spot, out behind my shed. It’s a retrofitted free-standing LL Bean stand, a little worse for the weather, with more than a bit of rust around the edges. I replaced the original cotton hammock after a few seasons with a classic polyester rope hammock from Hatteras Hammock. (I leave it out in the yard year-round.) The polyester seems to be holding up better than the cotton did.

Hammock design has come a long way since the days of Gilligan’s Island. There are plenty of options if you find the classic rope designs to be less than optimal for your lounging pleasure. Modern hammock options include weather resistant vinyl-coated polyester weaves, as well as cushy quilted fabrics. And then there are those awesome camping hammocks …

Now if only I had a cordless blender …

Tags: hammock