I just read a post on social media by a friend who was lamenting that her daughter’s college pushed back the start date for spring semester. The family lives in New York City and she wrote something like, “They’re sending the kids home before Thanksgiving and they’re not having them back on campus until February! What is she supposed to do here for two-and-a-half months!?”
This is of course not a “city” problem, but it’s a bigger problem in the city right now than here. And that is because here, in the backyard, many of us can and do avail ourselves of a simple but sanity-saving invention:
The fire pit.
I can’t even remember the days before I bought myself one of these delightful accessories, and now I have two: a wood-burning fire pit for the kids and a gas-powered one for adults. Neither is super fancy – I have not yet sprung for the “outdoor heater” – but both have allowed my family to extend our social visits later into the evening and later into the season.
Pre-Covid, we'd use our fire pit in the middle of the winter. It was as cozy and intimate as my living room fireplace – and in some ways even more so. Chilled wine or hot cocoa around a backyard fire is a perfect way to unwind on a Friday night.
Like everyone else in the world, my social life has taken a big hit in the last six months. But I’ve been to several Fire Pit Soirees over the last many weeks, and it’s so rejuvenating to do some socializing that feels close to normal.
If you’re a new homeowner, I highly recommend this simple, life-enhancing addition to your outdoor space. And if you’re selling, I highly recommend setting up a fire pit area in your yard so buyers can envision what their lovely autumn nights might look like.
I put Fire Pits on my Pandemic Silver Linings list – one of the things that we all have discovered the beauty of and a way of socializing that I believe will endure.
If you’re a buyer OR a seller who wants to know more about how outdoor spaces can be transformed into a little mini paradise without spending a lot of money, give me a call!
973-809-5277 (talk or text!)
