Last week in a post that was not at all about getting naked, I did offhandedly mention the possibility of public nudity, and a few of you lovelies took the time to inform me (on and off blog) that you would never get naked on a nude beach, which of course got me thinking about all of you naked on the beach. Consequently, I’ve gotten nothing done for four days! In my imagination, I am ordering you all to get your clothes back on and let me get back to contemplating important bloggable subjects like …
Public nudity.
What can I say? You have me distracted.
I’ve been wondering who DOES get naked at the beach? Except for one brave friend who assured me that public nudity under the right circumstances is no big deal, everyone I’ve talked to says they’ve never done it and never will. Even the amazing, fearless, face-life-head-on-and-don’t-blink Ash of The Middle Finger Project was not quite able to opt out of her clothes when she found herself sunning at a clothing optional beach.
I was surprised when I read that. I mean, if not Ash, then who?
I’ve been to a clothing optional beach twice, both times accidentally. Both times I kept my clothes on. The first time, I was in my twenties and had no idea that I would one day long to look just exactly as “ugly” as I believed I looked then. The second time it was freezing. In my jeans and sweatshirt, I was only passing through, hell-bent on getting a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge as the fog rolled in. The two guys that grinned at me as I raced past were butt naked and friendly. And cold… or so it seemed to me.
So now, I’m wondering who does get naked in public? Who are the brave souls so wonderfully comfortable in their skin that they’re willing to show all of it? Have you ever gotten naked on a nude beach? Would you?
Note: Lest you all think I’m a complete prude, I did go skinny dipping in a lake for the first time ever last summer. It’s true. I even took off my cape.
The MoneyShot
Is this part of your figuring out who you are or part of keeping it a mystery?
Oh man, great pic of my fav bridge and with your clothes on yet.
I’m all for public nudity as long as the choice is there to opt out if that is what you are most comfortable with. What comes to mind is Europe. The mind-set is different there and people seem quite used to frolicing around in their birthday suits because that’s what they know. I’m sure they laugh and giggle at the unenlightened, jacketed tourists who stop to gawk and take pictures they will hide in their underwear drawers.
My personal nude habits are just that, personal. I do have the good fortune to have many acres of woods behind my house, where our hot tub is located. To me, it’s horrible to have to wear a bathing suit in said hot tub, so all of my bubbly escapades are naked and limited to the privacy of my yard. I’ve been skinny dipping a few times and to be honest, to be unemcumbered by an uncomfortable piece of nylon feels wonderful. The liquor helped also, as that was during my drinking days. ;)
I understand that nudism is a way of life for many people. I like the philosphy of leveling the playing field so that everyone is the same. I would not be opposed to trying it at some point in my life. The nudists seem to have a joy about them, a freedom to let their skin have a break from elastic, straps, underwires, panty hose, etc. The only drawback I can see from nudism is getting all that sand out of those hard to reach areas.
Great, fun question. I laughed about the nude guys being cold….was that a “shrinkage” crack?
<3 Joanne
I love what joannefirth said “My personal nude habits are just that, personal.” That made me laugh.
Love this picture. Beautiful!
Rebecca, Ha! I guess not getting naked would be in the interest of keeping some things a mystery, right?
Joanne, But would being naked level the playing field? Wouldn’t some people still be more beautiful, less hairy, more tan? Although, if it’s a way of life, I guess maybe you get past all that… I just had a conversation about someone regarding his hot tub and he said people get naked in his hot tub, even friends. I wondered if I were at his house and everyone was getting naked to hot tub would I jump on in or remember somewhere important I had to be… clothed. Still not sure.
Terre, Thank you.
There’s a scene in “Mrs. Doubtfire” where Robin Williams remarks to Pierce Brosnan about how cold a pool must have been, accompanied by an arch look downwards below Mr. Brosnan’s waistline.
As to the topic, well there is a clothing optional pool area at a resort near the Russian River we have gone to over the years. Once I decided to sunbathe and everyone could see my … tattoos. These days, sad to say, the bod is not for public display. Don’t wish to frighten the horses, you know. :)
Once I went to a friend’s pool party and she had visitors from abroad who, while sunbathing, took off their bikini tops. As they explained later, they like the feeling of sun and water on their naked skin and are not doing it to titillate or cause a sensation to others. It’s for their comfort, that’s all.
very nice photo, getting out my grade book now, A+
KjM, Frighten the horses made me laugh. I do wish we had a society where it wasn’t because we were past an acceptable age or size to show off, but I know exactly what you mean. (Wish I could yell back to my 20-year old self.)
Marisa, Yeah, I know it’s not about that. I love the feeling on sun on skin too, and I definitely felt exhilarated when I swam in the lake. We’re so conditioned in this country though. Either we equate nakedness with sex, or we assume everyone else will.
Keith, Wow, high praise from you! I’m giddy!
I’ve never gotten naked on a nude beach, but came close to it when I was traveling alone in Sweden when I was 24. I was so lonely for company, I was just getting my bravery up to go talk to a group of young, beautiful people who were playing volleyball at the beach. Just as I finally stood up to walk over to them, they all took off their clothes and ran into the water. I watched for a while, but couldn’t do it so, I sat back down and wrote about them in my journal instead.
Yes, I have.
Actually, a story to go with my answer. One time it was on a Greek island. I was traveling alone. It was all tourists. I was travelling alone, and it was my introduction to everyone. We agreed to meet for dinner.
As one-by-one every arrived at the restaurant, I realized I didn’t recognize people with their clothes on. The French woman who had seemed goddess-like, in particular, just looked ordinary.
Go figure.
juliejulie, That feels like a short story you should write. It also feels like something I could done at 24. And now.
Karen, I love that someone might look like a goddess without clothes and ordinary with them. Something quite beautiful in that.
Of course, I’m sure they thought the same of me.
Your goddess tendencies are evident even when you are fully dressed.
I’ll by the coffee tomorrow.
So, why does I feel like just replying is like gettin naked itself? Maybe it’s the imagination thing, as you mentioned, j… Maybe I’ll just hide behind this buidling when I respond (where’s that extra blanket when you need it?)
:-)
Back to the question… Never been to a nude beach, and I’m thinking if I were to opt for the all over tan, I wouldn’t want to go alone. No pun intended, but I’d need some support from someone who wouldn’t pull a Mrs Doubtfire on me :-)
Now that I am distracted, I’ll try to get some work done :-)
I’ve been to more naked hot tub gatherings than I care to admit.
Bates Beach near Santa Barbara used to be (still is?) a nudie beach. Back in the day when I was a model for Brooks Institute, we had a shoot at that beach. I had a swimsuit. No one else did–a real eye opener.
I was in Nice France and clothing was optional. I opted for clothing.
A resort in Cancun I stayed at was clothing optional. And once in Jamaica we stumbled on a Hedonism resort and what I saw there without clothes frightened me, still to this day. Traumatized, I tell you.
But even with those who have more to “hang out” than I do, I still am too self-concious to go nude. In Public. In broad daylight.
i went to brooks, loved living in santa barbara – such a wonderful location & great weather
TPM, Laughing. If I were to say that I’d support you, please know the pun is absolutely intended.
Tricia, Damn, woman! You sound like such the worldly traveler in this response. I want to be you! *considers adding naked hot tubbing to life list*
Ha. Funny question. I have never been nude on a nude beach, been skinny dipping a couple of times – once in a lake (drunk), once in a pool (also drunk). Public nudity on the other hand – sure. In Korean spas. Even my mother, who as you know, is a tiny cute Japanese lady – who doesn’t like to show to much arm, or teeth, has no problem at spas getting naked. I think it’s cultural as has been mentioned about Europe or as Joanne mentioned about nudists. I admit, while no shrinking violet, I was a little hesitant to get naked in front of a bunch of strangers, but when everyone else is going about their business naked, you feel a little stupid with clothes on – so off they go, and it feels – normal. I think knowing a human body is just a vessel, not you per se and being comfortable in one, are gifts, something I haven’t mastered – but hell if my 82 yo mom can do it…
Good point about the naked hot tubbing. I would not go for it. I’m pretty self conscious about my body and modest on top of that. I would not do very well over in Europe. ;) Just one more point, I think the true nudists don’t really care what your body looks like, it’s a way of life and I’m sure they could care less how perfect or imperfect your body looks. If that were the case, then only magazine models would be nudists.
Caroline, I actually think that might be one time when group think would serve me well, get me past my own hangups. Love your last thought on this. Something for us all to aspire to.
Joanne, When my friend first told me people get naked in his hot tub, I thought he was just teasing. Now I see it’s not uncommon. Perhaps a glass of wine would help me in that situation. (A glass of wine helps me in most situations, actually.) ;-)
Keith~What year? I wonder if we’ve met. SB is a photographer’s paradise. Actually it’s just anyone’s paradise. I hope you are still a photographer. Tuition there ain’t cheap. :-)
I laughed outloud when I read this post and the line about your not being able to get anything done for 4 days ;-) I always get these great images when I read your writing, they are usually set up like that film Amelie. There is some connection to you and that character for me.
So, I have to ask — am I the only person that believes if we were to all walk around naked all the time then part of the ‘fun’ of it (nudity) would be gone for those “special” times? You know, the ‘by invitation only’ times ;-)
It makes me think of the film “The Piano” — you must have seen it right?! I often recall how completely taken the male character was when his love interest/obsession revealed, gasp (!), her bare ankle!! I thought that was really beautiful and honestly very provocative. She was always covered up (old fashioned clothing) and he was so madly in love with her that the sight of her ankle sent him over the edge. Ahhhhhhh, love in the 1800’s ;-)
On the subject of nudity, different cultures, sexuality, etc. — you might be interested in this web site: http://www.kinseyinstitute.org/ I know someone who works there — very interesting!!
Ah, j! You do bring up quite interesting subjects. As a teenager, I went skinny dipping with groups of girls only, and a few occasions with boyfriends (only one at a time.) There’s not a whole lot to do in Iowa. There’s a nudist colony (I think called Shangrila) somewhere around Phoenix that I think is still open. In the mid-eighties one of my bosses went there every weekend and was always trying to get me to go with he and his girlfriend. Just not the image I wanted in my head every time I’d see him in the office, so I declined. If I live to 82, I’ll go nude, smoke cigarettes, smoke pot and drink gin & tonics all day.
Oh, and I love your photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge that I keep a link to it in a photo folder just so I can look at it once in awhile.
Carey, You’re not the only one, it occurred to me too. Not sure I want to be come desensitized. I figured that was my unevolved self talking, but I feel better knowing it occurred to you too.
Dani, I’m here for you, darlin’. I have more things to talk about then blog space to cover it all! For some reason, “there’s not a lot to do in Iowa” as an explanation for skinny dipping made me laugh. There’s a lot to do here, and I still jumped in. ;-)
The photo, published over at isca, isn’t available any more. That’s why I reposted instead of just linking. (Thank you for saying you love it.)
Dani, having spent my college years in Iowa (go Central Dutchmen!), I would tend to agree with you. I would also think, since there aren’t too many pajama men, let alone tall ones, that I would stand out were I to go sans skivvies, so I remained modest in my appearance :-)
Besides, those college photog’s were everywhere – wouldn’t want that in the yearbook :-)
;-)
If you want to be in paradise you must be nude. Just like it is written in the bible.
So it is up to you. Do you wait for paradise or do you want to be in paradise today?
For some people it is as easy as taking off the clothes and experience how nice it feels to swim naked (e.g.). For others it is more difficult depending of how they have been “programed” as a child (e.g. religion, moral values etc.). Obviously if you have grown up with nudity beeing natural you tend to have fewer problems with nudity. On the other hand if you have been told nudity is bad and you should be ashamed then it will be harder to find to paradise.
Try it! You can not loose you can only win… God did not make a mistake. There is nothing to hide.
Love the feel of swimming naked… it is freeing… but I think that is called buoyancy LOL
but walking around naked…. nope.. 1/2 naked no problem…
really the image of people bending over to tie there shoes…
nope nope nope… cover it will flowing comfy fabrics and if we need to see each other naked… we will and if not… I have an imagination and it works fine :~)
I have a very good link.. will find it and post in.. because there are many places naked men just shouldn’t sit and nap LOL
LunaJune it is your problem if you do not like what God created. But not everybody has a problem with the human species so why should the people who do not have problems live the way people with problems live. It is not just!
If God wanted us to be naked he would have created us this way!