Saturday, February 19, 2011

What should you do if someone sees you when you are naked?

Nothing.  Do absolutely nothing different than you would do if you were clothed.  Normally, it goes like this...  They see you and realize that you're not wearing anything.  Until they know that you see them, their initial reaction is just one of curiosity.  Why is that person naked?   Should I leave before that person sees me and is distressed.   Then you see them and behave in a distressed manner.  They see your distress and either are distressed themselves for being in that situation, are distressed for you, or in some cases, delight in your distress and attempt to further it.

It works out much better for both of you if they see that you see them, and you make it obvious that you don't care.  That leaves them with the curiosity and maybe some worry that you might be weird, but if you don't act weird, it puts them at ease.  Continue doing what you were doing, showing that it doesn't bother you in the least that you're naked or that they are seeing you naked.

This works great when you're caught skinny-dipping or camping in a remote area which turned out to not be remote enough.  If you're in an area where nudity is technically not illegal, you aren't doing anything wrong and you should behave as if you have a right to be there in the nude.  If you're not supposed to be nude there, appear harmless and oblivious to your nudity, hoping for ignorance on their part, or at least some forgiveness.  Besides, if you're out in a remote area, it's too much trouble for them to report you, and by then you could be long gone.

Smile, wave, and go about your business.  You'll be surprised at how many people just smile, wave back, and continue on.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Nudist or Naturist? Naked or Nude?

Let me understand this correctly.  The only difference between me and others is that I'm NOT screwed up about what humans look like, and I get a label?  The only reason I even bother identifying with either label is that there isn't a simple way otherwise to say that I'm not compulsive about wearing clothing when I don't have to, I actually like being what I am, and I'm more than happy for others feel and be the same way.

Here in the US, being a "nudist" is more recognized term, even though most people assume that nudists are  more compulsive about being nude than they are about being clothed, and that their compulsiveness about it is at the very least borderline weird.  When in fact viewed objectively, it's the other way around.  The term "Naturist" sounds more like "Naturalist", or someone who enjoys nature and the outdoors, which is very true of me.  But this has nothing to do whether I'd prefer to be naked or not even when I'm not outdoors.

Most the time, I prefer "naked" over "nude".  It has an edgier rebellious sound to it that I like, as in the trademarks "Naked Juice", "Naked Science", "Naked Brother's Band", or "Bare Naked Ladies".   "Nude implies just another boring choice of how one dresses, implying "boring" or "plain" (as in nude lipstick).

To some people, the word "naked" implies being vulnerable.  I personally find this strange and don't feel any more or less vulnerable when I'm naked, than when I'm dressed.  My wife's residual weirdness about this shows up when I hear a noise in the house and don't bother to dress when I go investigate.  If there's an intruder, I'm not supposed to offend him or have worry about appearing vulnerable just because I'm not wearing something?  As if shorts and a T-shirt would make a difference?  Yeah, I hope he's offended and a bit put off, if not by my being naked, because of the loaded gun I've got pointed at him.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

On Being Seen from Airplanes

When I first tried sunbathing naked in a remote location, it bothered me when an airplane would fly overhead.  Could they see me?  Could they tell I was naked?  Worrying about such things is a distraction to enjoying oneself in remote locations, nude beaches, nude resorts, or even in one's own back yard.

As an active private pilot, I have a unique perspective on this.  I've flown over many of the nudist resorts and nude beaches I've been to here in Florida at the minimum legal altitudes allowed, so I can safely say, the answer is no!  Even if you know where to look and what you're looking for, you can't tell if the people you can see below are clothed or not.  To get the same effect, go to Google Earth, ask it to find a nudist resort (yeah, it will), and go zoom down to about 1000 feet above and try to make out if the people are naked or not.  Yes, you can tell they're people, but you can't make out what or if they're wearing anything.

If, by some chance, an airplane or helicopter is low enough to tell what you're wearing, as if they don't have other things to be looking out for when they're that low with the ground so rapidly going by, they can get in real big trouble for being that low.  If you can read their "N" number without binoculars, Google it, look up who owns the airplane, report them to the FAA and their employer, and you can easily get them fired or their license suspended.

Besides, YOU'RE not doing anything wrong!  They are if they're that low.  Yes, the police can fly low if they have reason to, but their chief is not going to take lightly a call from a citizen complaining that they're being gawked at from the air.

So... If an airplane keeps buzzing by low, reach for binoculars.  If they can see that you're naked, they can see that you're looking through something and they'll know they're in big big trouble.  Otherwise, simile, wave, moon them, or shoot them the bird.  Or just ignore them altogether.  Very likely, even if they are too low, they'll never see you, and you shouldn't care.

"Lifestyle" People (Swingers)

I've pretty shameless about my sexuality.  I didn't used to be, but I've learned over the years that being ashamed of that gift is both wasteful and ungrateful to my maker, and unfair to my partner.  I suppose if sexual activity was a required form of casual social interaction (as with Bonobo chimps), I could do it.  But I wouldn't want to.

My wife is the only one I want that deeply into my body and into my head, and I have a lot invested reaching into her head and learning about her sexuality and her body.  I claw away at her fears and inhibitions trying to set her sexuality free, while freely sharing my sexuality with her for her exploration and amusement.  I'd would much rather stay totally committed to her and the kids, than to have other people involved, picking us apart.

That said, those people exist.  To me it seems emotionally shallow and sexually degrading.  Promiscuous people will continue to evolve and spread nasty diseases, have small or no families, and pass on their shallowness and lack of commitment to what kids they do have.  And as a people, we'll continue to be worse off for it.

Unfortunately, there are enough of them out there that they overlap with the majority of nudists like me who don't want to have anything to do with them.  The overlap of two such unrelated interests is evident only because of the accepting environment of social nudism.  They are open about it with us more than in open society because we're more accepting.

Simply put, I don't like their vibe.  They bring a sexual tension to an environment that most of us are trying to escape from.  They're erotic with what they do wear and with how they don't wear things.  And their solicitations are most unwelcome.

There are clubs out there which cater to them.  Personally, I don't know where they are and I'm not interested in finding out.  To them, being nude is simply a means to an end.  It's too plain for them, so they spend most of their time erotically dressed.  I'm fine with that.  Let them have places where they can screw themselves silly.

In the US, clubs affiliated with AANR are supposed to not allow this behavior to be openly displayed in their clubs.  Several clubs have lost their affiliation because of this, and many of them have gone to the "dark side" hosting swingers groups.  I suppose it brings in more money.  Good luck and good riddance.

At other affiliated clubs it goes on, but they're more subtle about it.  If they are so subtle about it that I can't tell it's going on, I don't have a problem with it.  But otherwise, I avoid such places like the plague.  That behavior totally destroys what I'm there for.

I have the same problem with some clothing optional clubs.  When the clothing people there are wearing is provocative, I get turned off and go elsewhere.  It's a shame, because a clothing optional venue is a great way to help people ease into nudism without having to commit.  But if it sets up a tense environment, it will scare the kind of people I like away.  That's probably why I prefer clubs where nudity is expected and beaches where everyone is nude.

To each their own.... Somewhere else please.  We have so few really good places to go as it is.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Freeing the Youth

Why is it that most nudists are middle aged or older?  Several reasons...  Their kids are more often out of the house and they have more time and money.  But I think the bigger reason is that as you get older, you're less likely to accept stupidities in the culture which don't make sense and are often destructive (discrimination, barriers of class or position, etc.).  And you're looking for a little diversity in your life.  Maybe you travel more or make friends with someone from outside your cultural or religious background.

That's not to say that many young adults aren't open-minded.  But they are less self-confident about doing things which might not be accepted by their peers or "superiors".  That said, when nude beaches are available near colleges, you'll often find them dominated by students and faculty.  Often a travel club will form in the area where a good percentage of the members are young adults.  Such is the case near Wreck Beach near Vancouver and Mazo Beach in Wisconsin.  And at some clubs, you'll find more young adults and young families, then at other clubs.  Encourage them to travel to Europe and Australia, and they'll see how much more closed minded Americans are about nudity.

What can be done to prevent the youth from being so close minded (clothing compulsive)?  As a culture, let's bring back the open showers in school and have the kids use them as they should....naked.  It builds self-confidence and acceptance that the kids lack these days.   Have more beaches and public lands where people know they have the option to not have to wear clothing if they don't want to.  Encourage more festivals like Burning Man, where you can be naked the whole time if you want to be.  Do so while attending them, and encourage others to do likewise.

Start travel clubs near college towns and actively recruit at the colleges.  Hold info sessions, both on and off campus.  Fight to have nudism and body-freedom be acceptable topics for student social life.  Campgrounds and resorts near such places should advertise heavily and offer student discounts.  Offer a free weekend for selected student organizations to come and see what it's all about.  The majority of students should know at least that your organization exists and that it's worthy of consideration.

The internet does a good job of communicating and raising awareness, but nothing beats someone talking to a real person at a short info session, answering real questions, as they come up.

I came to it by self-discovery and curiosity in my teen years, and I started to explore what it was about soon after getting out of college.  We can continue to dream about changing the culture, but we really do need to offer alternatives to the kids when they are most receptive.  In college and in the early adult years before they get set in their ways and being to pass on and intensify the self shaming behavior to the next generation.  

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Sexually Naked

To most people, their biggest problem with nudity is the culturally conditioned association with sex.  For something that we owe our very lives to, we degrade ourselves by degrading our sexuality, treating it in such a negative way.  We have kids we don't want and we host, spread, and evolve diseases unique to our sexual activities.  It's no wonder people are so uncomfortable about being naked and seeing other people naked.  Arousal makes us lose our inhibitions and clothing gets in the way of sexual activity, otherwise, most people would probably never be naked except to bathe alone.

Shedding my inhibitions about nudity helped me shed some of my inhibitions about my own sexuality.  I'm now very much at peace with both.  I like being naked for my wife as much as I do for myself.  As if to say that my body is hers always, and not just when I'm in the mood.   And I encourage her to be naked both for her own comfort, and to reinforce to her that I love her just the way she is.

Clothing is an artificial barrier between people.  Between what we are, and how we present ourselves to others.  It is good and right to hate that barrier.  To confidently feel good about oneself, and to seek social environments where others encourage it and challenge you to accept and encourage them as well.  Yes, to go that far with strangers takes some guts.  But to go that far with friends can be even more difficult.  They know that person underneath the skin, and sometimes it's harder to get to know them from the inside out, than from the outside in.  There's an awkward physical intimacy one must pass through between the two which is often awkwardly skipped.

But to have that barrier, even unintentionally, with one's spouse is wrong.  Your body belongs as much to your spouse, as it does with you.  Their imperfections are yours and to not unconditionally accept them as they are, is to not accept yourself as you are.   It's easy to be naked for your spouse when you're aroused, and it's nice to not have clothing in the way when you're trying to be physically intimate.   But at the very least, you should accept them as they are all the time and not hide your body from them.