Tear Down the Walls

What?

It’s about time we stopped hiding our nakedness.

I visited my friend who lived at a naturist resort this past week.  The resort was spending lots of money and time replacing the tall wooden fence around the property.  I asked why?  He said he was not ashamed to be seen naked; the fence was erected to keep outsiders from being offended by the nakedness inside.

I take exception to that.  The naturists inside were actually hiding, not really protecting outsiders.  All they were really implying by hiding behind fences is that the naked body is offensive, and should be covered up on the outside.

Walls simply cause outsiders to imagine the worst.  As the above cartoon illustrates, all walls do is entice others to wonder what is going on behind the walls.  No wonder naturists are often accused of sexual perversion!  If naturists really wanted to protect outsiders, they would be open to being seen naked!

Resorts have become archaic; responding to concerns of the past.  Not only that, but resorts are in it to make money selling rooms and camping spaces – not necessarily bad, but also not the direction in which naturism is currently headed.

And the older naturists are risk adverse - afraid to risk being seen naked.

Where does all this lead?  To decreasing understand of naturism’s natural benefits.  Now, younger people avoid even using the term ‘naturist’.  Of course, these young people don’t go to these outdated, costly naturist resorts.  Rather, they just do close-to-home naked activities.  We can learn a lot from this.  If we will just pay attention, the actions of young people show us a bright future for naturists.  But it’s different than the past.

So, what should we naturists do?  Something new and different.  Stop hiding and tear down the walls.

Why?

Rather than hiding, being known as a naturist and being seen naked would normalize the truth about nudity.  What would this accomplish?

1.     Textiles would come to understand the truth about naturism.  They may never join in, but they would reject the false concerns about sexual perversion, and who knows, some might join in.

2.      Textiles would realize just how healthy naturism can be – physically and mentally.

3.      All would improve body acceptance and body image.

4.      We naturists would enjoy the wonderful feeling and benefits of naturism more fully.  Little else in life can be as fulfilling as nakedness.

5.      Life could be more fun.  It’s great to be with other naturists who understand.

Naturists used to say it was not about being seen by others, but about how nice it felt personally.  Well, maybe we should expand that idea.  Now, naturists should be seen naked ‘for the benefit of others’.

How?

Tearing down the walls to nakedness doesn’t just happen overnight.  It takes lots of courage to tear down the cultural walls to be seen and known, making naked normal.  It probably involves increased openness and communication with friends, family, and especially neighbors.  Tell everyone you’re a naturist.  You can no longer be a ‘secret’ naturist, especially in a world consumed with the Internet, cell phones, and drones.  There is simply less and less privacy, so open up.

Fortunately, we can start small and expand in new ways as we become more comfortable and less risk adverse.

Your Decision

First, you must decide.  Are you really a naturist, or just a wanna be?  Until you commit to being a real naturist, you are simply living a hidden, in-between life, and this is becoming harder and harder in today’s technological world.  Sneaking off to a naturist resort or nude cruise for a vacation and telling no one is just lying.  Secretly going to a nude beach is the same.  Being occasionally nude at home isn’t enough.  Being socially nude with only a few close friends isn’t enough either.  Not telling your spouse, family, or friends is a big mistake (what happens when they find out?).

The first step in being open is being open.  It’s that simple.  ‘You’ must make the decision.  

Fortunately, you can start small, and move toward becoming a more-open real naturist.  Eventually you will feel ‘comfortable’ telling and showing others.

Home & Yard

Your home is a great place to start small, because nearly everyone is naked at home at least on occasion.  I’ll bet you already shower nude.  Maybe you sleep nude.  Maybe you wait to get dressed until your makeup is on or you have shaved.  All these activities are simple acts of nudity.  Start there and expand.  Here are a few possibilities:

Drop your underwear.  Otherwise, you’re not nude.

Expand your nude time to include talking with others, planning the day, preparing food, watching TV, working on the computer, getting ready for bed, and sleeping nude.

Ready to expand further?

                                                                                                                         ,

Take off your clothes as soon as you get home and stay naked.

Decorate you house with naked statues and paintings.

Place nudist magazines, books, and your photo album (with some naked family photos) on your coffee table.

Put up naked photos of you and your family.

Ready to expand even further?

Be naked with your family.

Play naked indoor board games with family and friends.

Tell your neighbors you’re a naturist family.

Post warning signs near your door and driveway.  Here are some examples: “Just knock if you don’t mind nakedness.  Otherwise, ring the doorbell.” Or, “Entering this property means you acknowledge and accept that naturism is our chosen way of life.”

Ready to expand outdoors to your yard?  The idea is to wear just a few clothes outdoors at first, and then fewer and fewer clothes as you get more and more comfortable.

Sit outside nude on your deck and perhaps enjoy a drink.  Invite family and friends to join you.

BBQ and eat meals outside (as naked as you feel comfortable).

Get a spa and use it with family and friends.  Spas are nearly always used nude.

Sunbathe nude in your yard.

Play naked outdoor games such as corn-hole, ladder golf, and croquet with family and friends.

Mow the lawn naked.

Work on, and wash cars naked.

Work in the garage naked.

Take out the garbage naked.

Garden naked.

You get the idea, start small and then expand your naked options, and keep expanding until you feel comfortable naked (normalized) and everyone at least knows that you enjoy naturism.  This is important.  Remember the benefits (whys) listed above.

And notice the financial shift away from resorts.  With this approach, money is made selling naturist-related products and services to those who want to be nude at home or in the yard, not selling rooms or camping spaces to those who wish to travel away from home.

Now let’s look at some of the other possibilities for expanding naturism beyond your home and yard.

Skinny Dipping

People have been skinny-dipping for centuries – maybe forever.  It’s how most people bathed in the past.  Ask today, and most people have secretly skinny-dipped.  So, it’s easy to start small.

If you’re alone or with a group of understanding people, just get nude and jump in.

Later you might expand to skinny-dip with textiles present, because naked is just how you swim, especially in the wild.  Don’t be bashful; dip naked - most people will understand.

Hot Springing

Water too cold?  Go soak in a hot spring.  It’s normal for people to soak without clothes in a hot spring, especially in the wild, so it’s easy to expand your naked comfort-level and be seen.  It’s also easy to expand your comfort-level because the water will partially hide the fact that you’re naked.

If you arrive first, start the naked precedence so others who show up will know naked is acceptable.

Beaches

Beaches are natural places to be naked.  Start by finding a secluded beach at the ocean or a lake where you can privately swim and sun nude.  Then invite others.  They’ll join you because most people hate a soggy, sandy swimsuit.

Then expand further: When you’re comfortable, frequent an already approved naturist beach and get to know other naturists.

Ready to expand even further.  Go to a clothed beach and bravely explain to those there that, ‘I am a naturist, so prefer not wearing a swimsuit.  Would you understand?’  If so, get naked.  You’ll discover that many others on the beach soon join your nakedness, and you’ll establish a precedence for others who come.

Driving

Driving naked is tough for some.  They see it as exhibitionism.  It’s not of course for a naturist, but potentially others might notice, and that’s the point.  If you’re seen, others might understand that being naked is okay.

Naked driving even has a name – carnuding.  I’ve always thought that naturists should drive naked as often as possible - after all they’re naturists.  I’ve even shared the idea of taking a Skinny-Trip in your car, driving naked and getting dressed if needed to visit a store, eat at a restaurant, see the sites, or have a roadside picnic.  If needed, you can create a nudist resort inside your car - a safe place to drive naked.  Purchase window screens, towels, and even an extra body pillow (the perfect device for passengers to block the window view or comfortably cover up when needed).

It’s easy to start naked driving.  Try it at night.  Try it on deserted two-lane or dirt roads.  Place a wrap under you on the seat so you can quickly cover up if someone notices and gets upset.  Wear loose fitting clothes than can be easily slipped on when needed, and easily taken off again. 

Drive naked on longer trips.  Stay in the right lane on freeways or speed up to pass slower vehicles.  

Challenge yourself to drive naked to work and into town.  Eventually, you’ll be comfortable driving right from your garage to your destination, perhaps hundreds of miles away.

In addition to becoming more comfortable and showing others that nakedness is okay, realize that naked driving is certainly safer – you will pay careful attention to road conditions and other drivers, follow driving rules more fully, and probably drive slower.

Hiking

Do you love hiking?  You’ll love it even more naked.  Nude hiking is called freehiking.  There’s even a day on the summer solstice each year dedicated to naked hiking.  That’s a great excuse to begin.

You can start slowly by yourself at first.  Just slip off your clothes in a safe place and carry them with you if you’re concerned.  Later you can leave clothes behind and carry a wrap if needed.

Lone freehiking can be a spiritual experience.  Pause occasionally; take time to meditate and even pray.  As you do so, you’ll love the cool feeling of the breeze as it rushes past your naked body – natural in nature.  No sweaty clothes when freehiking.  The sun beating down will also feel great.  And as you top a hill, the feeling of breeze and sun on your naked body is heavenly!

Mornings during weekdays are the best times to avoid clothed hikers, so that’s the best time for beginners.  But let’s expand.  Few people hike anymore, especially a mile or so past the trailhead.  After that point, few people care what you wear.  Just be naked to show that you’re a naturist.  Don’t jump in the bushes as if nakedness is embarrassing.  Say hi, wave, or talk with others and explain how wonderful it is to freehike.  Invite them to join you – they might.

Where can you find places to freehike?  Anywhere!  Find a trail or path or dirt road that looks promising and get naked.  If there turns out to be lots of traffic, well that’s even better for being seen and explaining naturism.

And you can expand your naturist practice by freehiking with a group.  Groups provide more social interaction and are probably better accepted by clothed hikers.

Camping

Camping can be combined with freehiking.  It is easy to camp naked alone, and it’s nice to expand to a group of campers.  Enjoying a campfire and cooking hot dogs and smoores together makes naked camping even more memorable.  And if clothed people show up, invite them to join in; then there’s lots of opportunity to explain naturism.

Biking

The World Naked Bike Ride is held in many cities world-wide.  Why not join in?  That’s easy and you can be anonymous since there is an entire group of naked people biking.

That’s a great way to start, but then expand.  Start a Naked Bike Ride in your city, mountain bike naked, and as you become more comfortable even ride around the neighborhood naked.  Takes some guts, but neighbors will come to realize you’re just being you.

Music/Karaoke

Love music?  It’s better naked!  Nude karaoke is great fun.  So are naked drum circles.  And also naked singalongs and song writing performances.  Other music enthusiasts will certainly join in, or you can join them, only naked.

Sports

Did you know that there are naked sport teams?  The New Zealand Nude Black comes to mind.  

There are nude volleyball teams, nude tennis teams, nude bowling teams, nude horseshoe teams, nude paddleball teams, nude bocce ball teams, and more.  Sports and naked go together, and young people flock to naked sports, so your group of naked friends will grow exponentially.  Join a nude sports team, you’ll have lots of fun, and your naturism will be automatically reinforced.

Restaurants

Lately naked dining-out has become a thing.  There are naked restaurants in several major cities and other places that have formal naked dining groups where interested naturists get together to dine naked.  Contact a favorite local restaurant and ask if they’d host a naked group.  If you have enough interest from other naturists, the restaurants will likely consider it.

Shopping (Naturist Clothes)

It’s certainly difficult to shop naked now.  Customers and employees alike might be upset.  But maybe naturists should wear as little as possible, especially if they want to introduce the beauty of naturism to others.

This brings up the topic of naturist clothing.  A naturist prefers being naked, so what should they wear when interacting with the public?  As little as possible - wraps, kilts, sarongs, opaque or even see-through clothing, and zero underwear of course.

Or how about shorts and a t-shirt proclaiming your interest in naturism?  Few people will even acknowledge what you wear, but perhaps will respond to a t-shirt saying, “I’m a naturist.  Ask me more.”

Resorts

I’ve tended to downplay naturist resorts so far, but they certainly have a role to play.  At naturist reports you’ll certainly meet lots of normal people with the same desire to be naked that you have.  They’ll have swimming pools, hot tubs, and lots of naked activities.  So, give them a try.

Finale

In the final analysis, the group that has the most fun wins.  Naturists have more fun.  They are not easily embarrassed, or shamed, or afraid.  They win because they become open naturists – unafraid to be known and seen.

They influence clothed people by helping them understand the truth about naturism, just how healthy naturism can be – physically and mentally, and how body acceptance and body image can be improved.

And we naturists enjoy the wonderful feeling and benefits of naturism more fully as we become less risk adverse.

So open naturists have more fun!  We win!