A number of years ago when I was in my early thirties we went on holiday and stayed in a lovely villa up in the hills of Tuscany. The Villa sat in a wooded area, higher up the hill than anything else in the vicinity, and so as a result the garden and specifically pool area was totally secluded. I don't know where the idea came from, but it occurred to me that this was the perfect location to strip off completely and go for a skinny dip and sunbathe in the nude. I guess somewhere in my brain this idea had appealed for some time, but this was the first time it formed into a definite thought. There was one problem, in addition to my wife we were on holiday with my in-laws. I thought that at some point during the holiday my in-laws were likely to take the car out and leave my wife and I at the Villa at which point I could suggest a skinny dip. However as the time passed it became obvious that that wasn't going to happen. We wouldn't be left alone and there was no way I was suggesting it with them around. However the idea wouldn't go away, the desire to enjoy the sun on my skin with not even a pair of shorts in the way was becoming overpowering, so one day late in the holiday I decided to go for a walk in the secluded woods surrounding the Villa, on my own. So off I walked with just a pair of loose shorts, and no underwear, carrying a loose t-shirt. After turning down a very quiet track I got up the courage and stripped off the shorts and walked for a very pleasant 20/30 minutes enjoying the sun and the breeze on parts of my body that had never been exposed to the elements, at least since I was a toddler. I couldn't believe the feeling of euphoria that I felt at this experience. Some of it no doubt was the fear of being caught, part of it was breaking a taboo, but mostly it was just nice to feel free of the tyranny of clothing.
Back home in Scotland the opportunity never arose to repeat my experience. There was nowhere suitably secluded nearby that I felt was safe to disrobe in, so it wasn't until a few years later that I was able to have my next nude outdoor experience. Once again it was in Italy, this time on the Amalfi coast. My wife and I were staying in a lovely hotel overlooking the coast. We had a room with a balcony that looked out over the gulf of Salerno. The balcony was not overlooked by anyone, unless they were on the roofs of their buildings. One evening my wife and I returned to the hotel as a thunderstorm was rolling in. We both love thunderstorms and sat out together on the balcony to enjoy the natural fireworks. After watching the storm approaching for a while it eventually came close enough that the rain started falling quickly getting very heavy. At that point my wife retreated back inside, leaving me on the balcony on my own with the curtains drawn, so no one not even my wife could see me as I stood in the rain. It occurred to me that it would be a fantastic experience to feel the rain on my skin, so I slipped off my clothes and gloried in the rain falling on me in the nude for a while, despite the rain it was still warm a first but eventually I started to feel a bit cold and went back inside. I told my wife what I had done. She thought it was a bit strange but never really commented.
Once again this was to be an isolated experience, and after returning to Scotland, again looking for but not finding opportunities to strip off, and again it wasn't until we were back in Italy before I had another chance. This time we were staying in a villa in Umbria. It was 2 Km from the nearest village and plenty distant from any other habitation. The pool was located a little distance away from and not overlooked by the house. By this time my wife and I had a one year old son. One day our son was asleep in the afternoon, and I took the opportunity to go up to the pool alone while my wife stayed around the house in case our son awoke. Needless to say the isolation, the very low likelihood of anyone seeing me gave me the confidence to strip off, and for the first time experience swimming in the nude. After a little while swimming I eventually climbed out of the pool and lay in the sunshine to dry off. Having had a very pleasant 40 minutes of enjoying the pool and the sun alternately I put my shorts back on and returned to the house.
These were my first few introductions to being nude in the outdoors, or indeed anywhere other than my own home or a locker room, and they fixed in my mind the realisation that I love being nude outdoors and started me thinking that I might enjoy being nude in a social setting. It wouldnt be until a couple of years later that the opportunity to do so would occur, but that as they say is another story.
Thanks for sharing sounded great way to start off.
To follow up from my earlier post: I had been thinking for quite a long time that I would like to experience social nudism, but the opportunity never arose, or perhaps part of me was holding back from finding opportunities. In any case although I had enjoyed being nude outdoors on a few occasions I had always done so in places where I was certain no one else would see me. The idea that I would be nude in places where it was not only possible, but likely that others would see me was one which grew on me, to a point where I felt I had to act on it. Where I live in Scotland the opportunities are few and far between, but at this time I was travelling quite a lot for work. One of the places I went to frequently was not too far from Birmingham, and through some research on the internet I became aware of Clover Naturist Spa and Hotel. I toyed with the idea in my head for a while about making the trip to visit as a day spa user one evening after finishing work. Eventually I plucked up the nerve and after finishing work, checked into my hotel briefly and set out to go to Clover Spa. It turned out to be a bit of a longer drive through the traffic than I had thought. Then when I got there I sat in my car in the car park for a little while and thought "Do I really want to do this?". My nerves had started to kick in and I doubted whether I could actually strip off in front of other people. However as I said I had driven for quite a while specifically to get here, and the prospect of just turning around again without at least giving it a try made me come to the decision just to give it a go. I went in the front door and spoke to the woman at reception. You couldn't see anything from here, and she was clothed (as all staff always are there, I now realise). I paid my entrance fee, and signed a declaration saying I understood that once inside naturism was practiced. She took me on a tour round the facility showing me where everything was, showing me the garden etc. there were a couple of people sitting in the sauna, and someone else in the outdoor hot tub, and the nudity wasn't very obvious. After the tour I was left in the changing room to undress. I was alone in there and I quickly got my clothes off and collected my towel and walked towards the door into the populated areas of the spa. I had a moments pause as I put my hand on the door, and second thoughts briefly flitted through my brain, but I forced myself on through the door and into the situation of being nude in front of others for the first time.
The thing that surprised me the most was just how quickly it started to feel so very normal. After only a few minutes of high anxiety about being seen without any clothes on by complete strangers, and ones of the opposite gender as well, I very quickly relaxed and started to really enjoy the experience. I spoke later with the lady who had let me in at reception, and I was amazed at how comfortable I felt doing so. I told her that it had been my first time and that I had nearly turned around in the car park. I felt sure she would have noticed my nerves, but she hadn't. She thought I had probably visited other nudist locations prior to that night, and she commented on how relaxed and comfortable I seemed for a first timer. I loved the experience, and it confirmed in me that my feelings and tendencies were valid.
I try to get back to the Clover Spa whenever the opportunity arises, because it really is a fantastic place, with great staff and friendly customers, and I've been looking out for other places I can go to spend time with other nudists. I know about the Swim at the Western Baths in Glasgow, and I went for a visit once and really enjoyed it but, sadly, for various reasons Sunday mornings don't currently suit me very well.
For me that first night at Clover was a turning point. Prior to that I was someone who was interested in nudism, since then I am a nudist, and always will be.
http://www.forthnaturists.co.uk/
This club is at Haddington and have swims on Sunday late afternoons.