I'm not a typical outdoors person. I hate bugs, I hate wild animals (even though it's irrational to think that all woodland creatures are after me personally) and I hate humid Oklahoma summers. I generally hate summer in general; sweating is on my 'things I hate doing' list.

The one thing I love to do outside is hammocking.

Buying a hammock at 5:30 in the morning, when I was half asleep, was a spectacular idea, and I'm forever grateful for that impulse buy. Hammocking is a wonderful pastime that brings friends together and you closer to nature.

Here are my five reasons to take up hammocking:

1. Spend time outdoors.

I'm an indoor person (as I've stated above), and the only time I'm ever outside is to walk to my car, walk to class or hammock.

2. Relax.

You're suspended above the ground, and you have no fear of falling. OK, that's a fib; I'm fearful of falling when I get into my hammock and for the first three minutes I'm swinging. It has yet to fail me though.

3. Tan.

If you sit in your hammock just right, you can have it open and the sun can beam down on you while you take a nap. Just make sure to have sunscreen.

4. Spend time with friends.

I've convinced three of my friends to buy hammocks, and we go on adventures to the lake whenever we have time to go hammocking. It's a special time that makes me feel alive, free and young.

5. Camping is less stress.

Camping with a hammock rather than a tent puts less weight on your shoulders (literally), and it's an easier and quicker setup and breakdown time. It's also very comforting because nature is swinging you to sleep rather than you sleeping on a cold hard ground.