Summer Maxxing

Or, How to Bring Big Beach House Energy to Year-Round Homes

My husband loves a hammock. During the pandemic, he was frequently scolded by assorted outdoor authorities for hanging his hammock where hammocks weren’t permitted—parks, gardens, nestled along hiking trails. It seemed odd that the powers-that-be could be bothered by this, or maybe not.

A hammock is a lightweight slip of an object that when securely fastened between two shady trees instantly changes the whole mood. Voila! Vacation. Tada! Chill. Loitering is the vibe. Lingering. Such vibes are luxurious. It’s hard to be in a hurry when you’re in a hammock. You are not aiming for productivity, or even doing. You are merely being, and decadently so.

This summer, because budgets are tight, days are long, and hours unstructured, I’m dreaming of ways to create a similar vibe at home with small moments and subtle shifts. I’ve decided Summer House is a mood one can cultivate, not just a place one can’t afford. I know I’m not alone in feeling the restriction of the family wallet, and also in wanting this school’s out season to feel anything but restrictive.

My guiding question is: how can we infuse Big Beach-House-Energy (BHE) into our year-round homes? (I’m using Beach House and Summer House