Have a backyard camping night.

“By then it was early evening, and I was feeling decidedly cranky about the whole endeavor. Even with a ton of outdoors confidence and relatively low standards for comfort, I’d still put in a few hours’ effort and over 60 bucks for my supposedly free and easy campout. Plus, the weather was gray, the kind of endless drizzle that seems to come from nowhere and seep into everything all at once. Sleeping in storms is one thing in an expedition, but leaving a plush guest bed for a damp suburban yard felt entirely less enticing.”

“I’ll admit it did feel a bit silly at first too but as the night got darker it was nice to know I could go back inside if we became overwhelmed but the night temperature was perfect (65° F) and it was so nice to hear all the wildlife in our yard come alive at night. It was great to get a sense of what I need to invest in, too. Like a tarp underneath the tent, inflatable mattress or a cushion underneath a sleeping bag.”