Well, I am in hurry up and wait mode for my hammock and tarp, and have been looking at pictures to help ease the urge to visit the mailbox another couple of hundred times a day. Almost all of the pictures of hammocks I have seen have the tarp quite low and acting like the fly of a tent. In Speer's book there are one or two pictures with the tarp quite high and that looks much more enjoyable.

I'm assuming that the low, close tarp configuration is to minimize heat loss due to wind and protect from rain should it happen, but I am wondering if people would share their philosophies on how to hang their tarp. Is it always in protective mode, or do you raise it up on some days weather permitting, or do you sleep without it to enjoy the great outdoors?

Thanks in advance for sharing.