I've only ever been clothes-free indoors, and have been on-and-off when the mood takes me for quite some years.
I've always wanted to try it outdoors, and feel the fresh breeze on my skin, but always been far too afraid to do it.
There is a lovely field near to where I work, and its marked as a public footpath. It's near the main road, but has a tall thick hedge seperating it from passing cars, and an open field almost as far as visible (other people are tiny in the distance and fall under the 'if you can't see what they're wearing' category).
I've walked around this field several times, and each time I tell myself "today, I will take my clothes off and walk around", but I never do.
Only once out of a good two dozen times have I walked passed someone - every other time it's either totally empty or rarely someone at the far side, who's only visible for a minute.
Why do I have such fear of doing something I really want to do?
Every time I go with the intent of trying, and don't do it, I get really upset with myself.
I don't know what it is I'm scared of - showing myself in public, getting caught, being confronted, or getting in trouble with the law.
I really want to try walking outdoors clothes-free, but I'mm too scared. 🙁
OK, it can be a bit daunting the first time but I promise you have a wonderful experience awaiting you.
Your concerns are all associated with being seen as in the wrong, but in the first place you will not being "showing yourself in public" as you say unless you are seen of course. See posts by others on this site about walking such as those from RunningBear. See also the topic on the Law.
It sounds like you may be trying to take things too quickly. Try your garden, or somewhere less "public" like away from the main road for the first time. Try the walk at night maybe.
Better perhaps, try a naturist beach (refer to NUFF) - this should allay at least your fears of being in the wrong.
You will be OK I promise and hopefully you will keep us informed in a "first time" posting.
I dont have a private garden, since I live in flats - and due to personal arrangements, it's not possible to try after dark.
The area I have in mind is about as private as it can get in a public area - I've seen about 3 people in 12 visits, and only 1 close enough to see what they were wearing. In my mind, it's an ideal location to try it.
I'm considering joining a swim, but the closest one is some distance, and travelling is rather difficult (but not impossible). I'll have to make the effort though. 🙂
But thank you for your reassuring words, I do feel motivated to give it a go - even just a few minutes will be massive for me! I know once I actually DO it, I will be okay - it's just stripping off is a bit of a barrier.
It's a lovely sunny, warm day today... so perhaps I'll try this afternoon after work.
Life is too short not to try new things for the jest in life. At Nudefest I found my feminine side by learning belly-dancing with Angie. I offer a naturist yoga class that is totally safe like a club but my real love is walking in mountains. Our next walk is on the Quantocks this THu @ 10.30 and you are not that far from us. We are all experienced freerange naturists and used to your concerns. The walks the Somerset Strolling Bears organise rarely interact with textiles and is a good start. The next move will be to set up a walking group nearer to you! Once you have a taste for the freerange style you will never look back. Just take that next step. We were all at your stage yesterday but today we are radiant beings without the need for those rags of shame.
Nearly forgot Love and light and contribute and tell us your worries since a worry shared is good for gossip ;D
On another level I am ruled by the laws of karma. Your avatar shows a miserable cowboy. If you had a smiley cowboy the good karma this would induce would rub off. Hey! I am at one with the squirrels. Have you seen their energy? Never upset a squirrel 🙁
Scroll down to the bottom left hand side of this site and you will find the shoutbox. Good place to trivialise or espouse wondrous things. Why are you a naked cowboy for instance? Do you play a geetar?
"We are creatures of light; why cover our radiance with clothes?"
I've walked around this field several times, and each time I tell myself "today, I will take my clothes off and walk around", but I never do.
Walking around in public (as opposed to just being horizontal) is my big dread! I'm sure I'll get there, with lots of jolly traumas on the way to regale others with one day.
Perhaps you should start by just finding somewhere reasonably comfortable, stripping off and lying in the sun till you're used to the open-air sensations. Then take a walk when you're ready - that's how I started, and I still doubt I'll be one of the more physically active nudies in any public setting for a while! Just take it as it comes - once they're off, getting up isn't such a big deal if you're reasonably shielded from view: next stop's doing it in front of everybody, hoho!
Consider making a trip to the abbey house gardens in Malmesbury, not to far from Gloucester, it is clothes optional so you can take your time and get the feel of the place before you undress. There is a thread on this site where a member describes his experience visiting the garden, and I can fully endorse his comments.
Apart from two trial visits to a naturist swim, my first time (outdoors) was in the AH gardens. It took me all of five minutes to strip, most but not all other visitors already had, and it was a glorious four hours wandering round in the gentle breeze. The next clothes optional day is on 11 july, with three more in early september, 3rd 4th and 6th, I believe. Keep an eye on the where will you be board for other members going along.
Some really good advice above TNC 🙂
Definitely find somewhere less public to start with.
I regularly walk naked in several areas fairly local to me and have yet to meet anyone else whilst dong so and i have been doing that for the last 15 years or so.
A naturist swim, beach or Clothes optional event is a good way of "breaking your duck" so to speak... Walking naked gives me sense of fulfilment and calm happiness that is hard to explain. It IS worth the effort so pick a warm summer night, away from public places, perhaps set your alarm for 3am.. its getting light at this time of year and no one is around.
Give it a go and enjoy the freedom.. as RB says above life is too short not to experience new things and the whole naturist outlook is an enriching and life affirming thing to do.
😀
Mark.
the soft wind on my naked body and the cool earth under my bare feet
I decided to do it this morning - I got to the area nice and early, and sure enough it was absolutely deserted. Even the main road the other side of the thick hedge was quiet, several minutes between each single car.
The field I went to has a footpath around the outside and thick hedges against the road.
From where I was stood, it was really private and secluded.
Long grass also helped to sheild me from any unexpected visitors. Thankfully, none came.
After checking the area, and taking a deep breath, off came the clothes!
Freedom!
I stayed there for about 10 minutes, walking about 50 yards either way from the safety of my little area. I felt amazing, so free and fresh and actually at one with where I was standing.
It's a shame I could only be there for a short time - but hopefully I'll be going back again.
Congratulations! I don't think I could've been so bold first time outdoors. Great work, even a pic! - that's still in my to do list (may as well have one before I decay completely, just to remind the future me that things were better before it all fell apart). 😀
😀 Brilliant - well done !
just be careful and enjoy your new found experience
Mark.
the soft wind on my naked body and the cool earth under my bare feet
I felt amazing, so free and fresh and actually at one with where I was standing.
It's a shame I could only be there for a short time - but hopefully I'll be going back again.
Now you're over the first time barrier it is not a case of hopefully i'll be going again, but I SHALL be going again! Well done, and don't forget to follow up the other suggestions people made. 🙂
Congratulations on your first public foray.
The farming bit of me would just like to point out that the "long grass" is in fact oil seed rape. ;D
Another good crop that offers even more cover and is easy to walk through is maize. Provided you don't mind walking in straight lines and be constantly brushed by the leaves, you can walk around a field of it to your hearts content. And you'd be surprised how close you can get to the textile world ie.roads,houses etc without being observed.
also - try flickr.com for hosting your pictures.. photobucket have removed your picture
Mark.
the soft wind on my naked body and the cool earth under my bare feet
Do Flickr allow nudity? Or any other free image host? It'll be nice to share more photos with the group.
I've been back to the same field twice since - once was short (only 2 or 3 minutes) because I became too nervous for no particular reason But the last time I went - yesterday evening - I was there for a good 20 minutes.
I love the feeling of the sun warming my entire body. There's simply nothing else quite like it!
Yes flickr allow nude, non sexual pictures just pmake sure you set them to private. It also means you can post image of various sizes by clicking the "all sizes" button when you image is stored.
Been back again already! 🙂 there's no turning back now !
Mark.
the soft wind on my naked body and the cool earth under my bare feet