This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Stephen Hutyra, a 42-year-old program analyst living in the small town of West, Texas. It's been edited for length and clarity. In November 2020, ...

Summer is our family's favorite season. We spend lots of time in our backyard, hosting gatherings in — and out of — our pool. While we’ve always had plenty of outdoor seating, we knew something was ...