Imagine a slight breeze rocking the baby hammock. With every sway and swing you're a bit closer to that perfect place. Slowly your mind lets go of its worries and your muscles relax, releasing the day's tension. Sounds good, doesn't it? Now all you've got to do is find yourself a hammock distributor (See Sources 26) and decide on a hammock.

Simple? No. warning: You may feel as though you've walked into a gourmet coffee shop--too many choices and all you really want is a cup of Joe. Most distributors offer far more than the typical cotton and nylon rope hammocks. In fact, many of the choices actually read like a coffee menu: Mayan, Brazilian, Costa Rican, El Salvadorian, just to name a few. (Depending on the style and size, these hammocks can range from a mere $ 42 up to $ 180.)

X Marks the Spot

Once you get the hammock, you'll need a shady, isolated spot (one where you can't hear the phone and can't see the garden--lest you be tempted to answer a call or pull some weeds) and declare it your spot. Mark it with a flag, an X, your scent--whatever it takes to ensure it will always be yours.

A Leg to Stand On

You've got the hammock and you've got the spot. Now you need two stable points for banging. If you live next door to the Bradys or the Huxtables you probably have two trees spaced the perfect distance from each other. If you live with the rest of us, you need some other options. Hint: That rickety fence post probably isn't a good idea. Use objects that aren't going anywhere and are firmly planted in the ground. If all else fails you can opt to buy a stand. They range from $ 59.95 all the way to $ 824 and come in steel, wood, and even heliotrope (don't ask us, we're just telling you what's out there). Some look like backyard artwork, and are priced accordingly.

Hammock Hanging 101

Like a favorite pair of jeans, your hammock should be loose but not too loose and you definitely want to avoid the too tight extreme at all costs. If your trees aren't cooperating (See "A Leg to Stand On" for reasons they wouldn't be), use your imagination. We've seen hammocks hung from the backs of campers onto a nearby tree (careful, don't let anyone drive away in the camper), from two pillars on a porch, or between the barn and a tree (with your head facing the tree). We even saw one on a balcony of a high-rise apartment building in sunny Florida.