I had a few guilty-feeling brushes with nudism through my late teens. I next experienced it when I lived in Cornwall and went to a beach with a girlfriend one night. I stripped off and swam naked, whilst she stayed clothed and paddled. We repeated that experience many times, always the only ones there, or when others were very distant. My first experience on a public beach was when i was off work with a broken foot about 11 years ago. I decided to ride my motorbike down to Studland and check it out. I didn't know where the nude section was and ended up walking for ages, in my leathers, dripping with sweat and with a very sore foot, until I found the nude section. I was so hot I was happy to strip off and only felt slightly self-concious. I walked along the water's edge a bit until two clothed women started giggling at me. They appeared to be middle-eastern and were probably more embarassed than I was. Anyway it was a glorious day and I really enjoyed myself. I would consider that my first 'proper' time. Since then I have been on nude beaches in France, New Zealand, Greece (Ios) and Lanzarote. Whilst I am encouraging my wife to try it, and i think she will, neither of us would feel comfortable taking our teenage daughters with us.
Who would be more afraid you or the kids? 😮
I bet most teenagers would decline to come if they not naturists already, ours did.
At least we offered, and we did tell, as sooner or later they would have suspected. Although they decline to join us they are very okay about us doing it and even discuss it with us and has made them more open with other people and us for it. Well we think so. 🙂
Saves on the guilty family secrets 😀
Al
I don't think it is a matter so much of 'afraid', as 'embarassed'; and that would probably be both the girls and me. As the girls have grown they have become more private, and I have reflected that I suppose. My wife is okay with them seeing her naked, but I suspect that is because they are all girls. I wouldn't even broach the subject of naturism with my daughters unless they brought it up. Then I would admit to having skinny-dipped. Not really inclined to admit any more than that to adult friends either. Maybe that makes me hypocritical, I don't know, but that is the way I choose to deal with it now. Rather than it being a 'guilty family secret' it is just something unsaid.
Frenchy said
Not really inclined to admit any more than that to adult friends either. Maybe that makes me hypocritical, I don't know, but that is the way I choose to deal with it now. Rather than it being a 'guilty family secret' it is just something unsaid.
I suppose if you think of naturism as being on a scale, on one end we have the shout and tell everyone I'm a nudie folk and on the other end those who keep it private. Both, in my view are perfectly legitimate.
We need the "shouters" to shout out for the cause to make it more acceptable in society but we must accept that for many that is a very difficult thing to do. People will not risk their career which after all puts bread on the table. On a personal note I am towards Frenchy's end of the scale.
Events such as Abbey House Gardens and the maze events will help. We need to thank "the shouters" for organising these events which allow others, perhaps away from home to expand their naturist horizons, which in turn helps naturism to be more accepted by society.
This of course makes it a bit of a catch 22 situation. Naturism is a broad church and whatever our personal feeling are we need to be tolerant of the views and circumstances of fellow naturists.
Davie 😎
Very good point, well presented.