Hammocks: Form And Function From Centuries Ago

Some of the best things in life are those that are both practical and comfortable; form and function coming together to give you something that you can enjoy in many different ways. Some of these things have been used for centuries and hammocks are the perfect example.

People have been using hammocks for centuries as places to sleep. Spanish conquerors discovered the people of the West Indies using them. Since that time they have been used around the world in many different settings.

While native people used hammocks as beds that provided a comfortable place to sleep as well as protection from various insects and other small animals, the navy adopted them for use because of their compactness and ease of transportation.

Today while hammocks are still used in more practical applications, generally they are considered a symbol of relaxation and leisure. A common picture might have a man or woman lying in a hammock on the beach drinking a cold drink. It conjures feeling of rest and relaxation and getting away from you problems on vacation.

Most people in developed countries do not use hammocks for general sleeping every night but they are widely used for resting in. Many people have hammocks in their backyard. They might be suspended between two trees or they might be supported by a hammock stand. Hammock stands are constructed of metal or other material and provide a frame for the hammock to swing from.

Hammock swings are also popular in residential back yards. These can be smaller than other hammocks and are great for swinging while lying back and relaxing. Like other hammocks they can be made of woven string of different types or of various sorts of material.

There are many types of outdoor hammocks. Some are like those mentioned above which are used in backyards. There are also thicker canvas versions as those used in the navy. Nylon hammocks are commonly used on private boats for relaxation on deck under the sun.

Of course one of the major uses of outdoor hammocks is in camping. The hammock can provide the perfect place to sleep while in the wilderness, keeping you off the ground away from pests and on a more comfortable sleeping surface. Hammock tents provide even greater protection from the elements as well.

Hammocks that are intended for use while on the go can be very compact for carrying around. While some may rely on trees or other structures being provided to support them, others come with hammock stands that can be folded away into a small space that is light and easy to carry.

Centuries ago when natives of the West Indies and other areas used hammocks for sleeping, they could likely have never guessed that the concept would spread around the world and this very functional object would become a symbols of relaxation for millions of people for centuries to come.



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Speed limit revised along area road
SWANSBORO EUR” A drive down Hammocks Beach Road in Swansboro will soon be at one speed. The town Board of Commissioners adopted an ordinance at its Jan. 17 meeting that revises the speed limit along the road to 45 mph its entire length. The action...


Bird count scheduled
SWANSBORO EUR” Hammocks Beach State Park will serve as a community backyard for anyone in the area interested in participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count. The annual bird count invites anyone, from the novice to the experienced, to record the...


Living on the edge: An innovative model of mangrove-hammock boundaries in Florida
The key to understanding how future hurricanes and sea level rise may trigger changes to South Florida's native coastal forests lurks below the surface, according to a new model linking coastal forests to groundwater. Just inland from the familiar mangroves that line the coasts lie hardwood hammocks that are sensitive to salinity changes in water found in the soils...


The Crafty Traveller: 500 for a school holiday week in a dream French chateau? - Daily Mail

Daily Mail
The Crafty Traveller: 500 for a school holiday week in a dream French chateau?
Daily Mail
Once home to a wealthy marchioness and surrounded by 40 acres of olive groves, it has a giant swimming pool, pool bar, hammocks slung between fruit trees, shady patios, table tennis, antique beds, designer bathrooms, state-of-the-art music system, .

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Police search for pair of carjackers
SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) -- Police are searching for a pair of carjackers after the took off with a vehicle in Southwest Miami-Dade. The duo ambushed the driver of the car at gunpoint outside a Publix along Hammocks Boulevard near Southwest 104th Street, Sunday...


 




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