Can some one help me see the error of my ways

[lori]

I go where the weather changes - turns on a dime, rain falls, wind blows, things fly. If a single pine cone falling rips my tarp, my down quilts get rained on, the trip ends and I am packing up all my wet gear to leave. If I have something that bounces things right off, I can finish my week long trip.

A good strong tarp that stands up to hailstones the size of nickels is worth the cost. (Pine cones here can be two feet long and weigh several pounds - sugar pines and lodgepoles are plentiful.)

[phatpenguin]

I knew I was missing something and I just needed the sense beaten back into me. I think this one was the kicker:

One thing that doesn't get talked about a lot with hammocks is that your tarp is probably the most important piece of gear. More-so than the hammock, it is actually your shelter from the elements. Consider that hammocking is essentially tarping with a suspended bivy. For all the endless talk that we do about hammock design and features, it's our tarps that keep us dry and block the wind.

I have read that before but I just needed to be reminded. Well I have a few of these left to limp along until I make a smaller lighter tarp than the gg.
I appreciate the infinite wisdom of this group.