Sept 9, 2020
By Dray Barnes
On one of my many trips to the Eno River, my friend AJ mentioned the “hammock life” and I just thought it was one of the many lovable, hippie, conspiracy-esque things he generally says to me in conversation. (He’s still on the fence about vaccines) Because of my mother’s blossoming hoarding habit, I have recently acquired a hammock of my own. I have slowly realized that bringing a hammock to certain outdoor activities makes the vibe hit different. Hammocks aren’t just portable furniture or a useful tool, hammocks are a lifestyle.
Recently I’ve been setting up my hammock right beside the Eno river and using the time to write and sleep. Sometimes I am gently nudged out of my sleep hearing comments from strangers such as “ wow I’m jealous” and “that guy’s got things figured out” . Who would have known that all I needed to do to hang out with the cool kids was bring a hammock? People see me with this simple piece of fabric and suddenly think I’m really fucking cool. The gag is on them because even without the hammock I’m really fucking cool. But let’s explore the history of hammocks and why you should have one.
Hammocks have been with humankind for quite some time. The first known record of hammocks go back at least a thousand years. Many indigenous civilizations such as the Mayans in Central America were solely hammock users. The Taino people, who were indigenous to the Caribbean, coined the term hammock meaning “fish net”. The devices were used as a method of sleeping with distance from the ground, protecting against pests and poisonous plants and animals. Interestingly enough, during Christopher Colombus’ exploits of these lands, he brought the hammock back to Spain. It quickly gained popularity with sailors and was fastidiously implemented in most ships up until World War 2.
Hammocks have grown way past military use in American culture. They are a staple in the backyards, trunks, and hearts of people from all walks of life. Many are swapping out tents in favor of hammocks. Some are swapping out homes in favor of hammocks. Believe it or not, there is a science involved with human attraction to hammocks. According to History.com, A new study conducted by a team of Swiss researchers and published in the June issue of “Current Biology” has offered a scientific explanation for the longstanding global hammock craze. The team found that a swinging motion synchronizes brain waves, allowing people to doze off faster and attain a deeper state of sleep. Their results also support the ancient—and still very much alive—tradition of rocking children to sleep. The hammock life is deeper than affordability and convenience, hammocks connect to a deeper need we all feel, the need to be nurtured.
My use of a hammock bestows some sort of ancient tribal honor that you can’t really understand until you join the club. Get out there and buy a hammock, use that shit, and get ready to be a member of this exclusive lifestyle.