I cut my way through to the bar yesterday to take a picture illustrating how well baskets can survive if they are only protected from moisture. In the bar there are many just hanging from the ceiling as decorations. They have hung there since about ten years ago when I built the bar and are in very good condition. The unheated bar is in a separate building on the property some distance from the house . I only use it for parties in the summer. If kept reasonably dry, they last very well. Conversely, this is a picture of this year's summer bed for the stray cats. Although they have warm quarters for the winter, I always put out a large basket for a cooler summer sleeping place. It gets very little rain, but it does get some. Within two years it is destroyed completely and must be replaced. even though there is quite a green natural roof over the pergola as the forest is eating the house.Very little rain gets through the vines, but it is enough to destroy the basket. I consider it to be temporary and imagine that the Native Americans in wet places felt the same about them. I told you so. I'll bet you thought I was exaggerating. We're sinking back into the woods here.