Work Gets in the Way of "Naked Time"

Wow, work has been crazy lately. Not that it's ever not crazy, but between work and my personal "to do" list, I haven't had what my husband calls "naked time" in quite awhile and not nearly often enough. I'm definitely hoping that this weekend will allow for some "naked time." It's amazing how a weekend of "naked time" outdoors can truly help us slough off the stresses of work and life. I'm so glad we found this outlet for our stress. Not to mention all of the wonderful friends we have made in our "naked community." With travel for work and travel for family obligations, before you know it the summer is over and the warm days available to be naked outdoors start to diminish, so I need to schedule in my "naked time" these days. Those of you who can be naked full-time should consider yourselves very lucky. For the rest of us, we're counting down the days until our next naked weekend.

Spring Forward Naked

http://yourstru.ly/2010/05/11/elite-gymnastic/

The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and it's time to set our clocks forward again to enjoy a little more sunshine during the day. A little more sunshine? Yes, that's what we nudists really love. More time to relax outdoors with the warm sun on bare skin. Time to shed our winter coats and begin introducing ourselves to some rays in preparation for summer. Ah yes, spring is here, so set your clocks, take off your clothes, get outside and spring forward naked.

Naked Adam & Eve

I'm reading at mass this week. Hopefully I'll be the one to read the following:

Gn 3:9-15, 20
After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree,
the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?”
He answered, “I heard you in the garden;
but I was afraid, because I was naked,
so I hid myself.”
Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked?
You have eaten, then,
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!”
The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me
she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”
The LORD God then asked the woman,
“Why did you do such a thing?”
The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.”
Then the LORD God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this, you shall be banned
from all the animals
and from all the wild creatures;
on your belly shall you crawl,
and dirt shall you eat
all the days of your life.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”
The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.

There are many perspectives and interpretations about the nakedness of Adam and Eve. God did not clothe them. The roamed freely amongst the garden naked and never thought anything about it. When they ate the forbidden fruit they suddenly were ashamed of themselves and hid behind the covering of plants. Many interpret this as a sign that nakedness equals sin. If that is so then why would God have them running around naked in the first place? One explanation I've heard and tend to agree with, is that Adam and Eve were ashamed of their sin of disobedience by eating of the fruit that God had told them not to eat. So they hid themselves and their shame. Nakedness was not so much a concern about being unclothed but more about being exposed for their sin of disobedience to God. So they hid themselves with plants to cover their shame, not necessarily to cover their bodies. 

Naked Under Cover

Even in Southern California the weather is turning cooler and opportunities to be nude outdoors, other than for those die hards like my husband that love cooler weather, are becoming fewer and farther between. Yet another weekend will go by without being able to visit our local nudist club to enjoy the sunshine in the buff. So how do we nudists get by when the weather turns cold? For me, I spend a lot of time under the covers of the bed. I still can't bring myself to sleep in pajamas, too confining. I always get twisted in the fabric. But give me some nice clean sheets and a comforter and I'm a happy camper.

As for socializing with other nudists during Fall and Winter. Well, in Orange County the Naturists in the OC or NITOC have a family friendly nude swim once a month at an indoor pool. They also offer gym facilities where folks can play volleyball, basketball and some other indoor sports followed by a nice dinner and raffle. It's a great time to relax and make some new friends or visit with old friends. It's still not so frigid in So Cal that we couldn't still enjoy the nudist club and use the indoor pool and outdoor spa, plus just hang out with friends in a trailer or something, but for some of us our sunbathing activities will be curtailed. I'd love to hear from nudists in other parts of the world regarding their cooler weather naturist activities.

Let's Talk About Boob Jobs

This discussion might be a bit controversial, but I think it’s a topic worth discussing.

It’s funny that nudists are all about body acceptance, but tummy tucks and boob jobs are rampant in the nudist community, at least here in California. Of course, some alterations are due to medical necessity but many are simply aesthetic. I must admit that the idea of defying age and gravity with a little help from my local plastic surgeon is tempting, but after seeing some very unnatural looking post surgery breasts along with the various scar designs my temptation level has waned to a fear of having breasts that look like they are 20 while the rest of my body looks elderly. Natural breasts come in various shapes and sizes, some are full and rounded at the bottom, some dangle languorously pointing towards the ground, and some are small and pert. All natural breasts however share the characteristics of a gentle droop and a happy jiggle and bounce when unbound and traveling. Augmented breasts also come in various shapes and sizes, often dependent on the skills of the surgeon and the elasticity of the woman’s skin at the time of the surgery. Some are full and round, but seem to have the skin stretched so tight over the breast they look as though they might pop if they were touched. Some are disproportionately large compared to the physique of the woman. Some have natural looking breasts, but the nipples are positioned awkwardly as though they were placed to high above center and look surprised at the view. Every so often there are some breasts that look so magnificent that it’s difficult to determine if they are real or enhanced. They have the fullness expected when a woman is young and has not experienced childbirth, or breastfeeding, and they have that gentle droop that natural breasts experience. The only sign that can truly identify this wonderful breast enhancement is the think scar neatly hidden under the curve of the breasts that may only be seen if the woman raises her arms enough to expose the hidden area. I’ve not had the nerve just yet to approach a woman with this rarest of excellent surgical procedures and ask her the name of the surgeon. If I were to consider a breast augmentation I would certainly use a doctor with references such as these. For now, and maybe forever, I’ll stick with what nature gave me and enjoy living my naturist life.

Can you tell the difference? Fake or Real? Test Yourself

48 Reasons Not To Get A Boob Job

Social Nudity, Why?

I have had friends ask me, “Why are you a nudist?” I’ve been asked if I’m an exhibitionist, a swinger, a voyeur, or simply just weird. Maybe I am deluding myself, but I don’t think I’m any of those adjectives.

When I was a child I was a notorious stripper. Back then everyone just thought it was cute. “There she is again, naked as a Jay bird.” I’m sure the heat had a lot to do with the shedding of clothes. Also, as a child there were no concerns about how society would react to my nakedness, regardless of my resemblance to a Jay bird or any other bird for that matter. My only concern was for my own comfort, coolness, and freedom from the confines of my clothing. As I grew a little older, say my early teen years, skinny dipping became a more acceptable opportunity for being naked outside of my bedroom or bathroom. By then the pressures of society were upon me and so skinny dipping took on a new feeling of clandestine naughtiness. My friends and I would slip off our bathing suits and jump into the water blushing and giggling. Still, the desire to be naked outdoors stemmed from the feeling of freedom attained by throwing off our clothes which seemed to represent rules that our families, schools, churches, and the rest of society had thrust upon us. Adulthood seemed to bring with it tighter societal restrictions rather than the liberation I expected. In my mind cleavage and other bodily attributes needed to be well hidden under loose fitting clothes, especially while at work. Otherwise, eyebrows may raise, tongues may wag, and I would be presumed as nothing more than office eye candy rather than a business woman with a brain. So I remained covered up, in and out of the office, for decades. Then I discovered social nudism and rediscovered that childhood feeling of abandon. No clothes to weigh me down. Free from my burdens, even if only symbolically. I’m liberated.

But why public nudity, you may ask? Yes, I could certainly be naked in my home. But there is a different feeling when you are naked in nature rather than hiding indoors. The sun and wind caressing every inch of your skin is tantalizing and you can feel one with nature.

“Ok,” you may say, “I can understand being naked in nature, but why would anyone want to be around other naked people?” Well, there is something to be said about being around like minded people. I certainly wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around naked on a beach or at a party where everyone else is fully clothed. I would stick out like a sore thumb. Plus, the clothed people might be horrified and offended because they might not understand the reasoning behind my nudity. However, if everyone else were also naked then I would fit in and the others would share my viewpoint. Are you beginning to see where I’m coming from? Now let me ask you this question. When was the last time you went somewhere and made friends with fellow travelers or beach goers? I’m not saying it isn’t possible, but from my experience the greetings and conversations have been more temporary and superficial than those I’ve experienced when conversing with fellow nudists.  I think Tom Tiemann, from Bare Necessities Tour and Travel, summed it up perfectly when he wrote, “People who can shed their clothes in public (imperfections and all)---are also able to discard their emotional coverings as well. When they do this, their real self shines through and, they are ready for genuine friendship.”

Dog Days of Summer

This weekend we decided to visit the Terra Cotta Inn located in Palm Springs, California. We are frequent patrons and always enjoy the relaxing and friendly atmosphere. The owners of the Terra Cotta Inn are Tom and Mary Clare Mulhall. They are usually present and actively involved with their patrons which adds to the mom and pop feeling of this historic motel. If you ask why people tend to choose the Terra Cotta for their vacations, the usual answer will be the personal camaraderie they share with Tom and Mary Clare. Of course, everyone enjoys the Four O’clock appearance of Tom in his bow tie serving wine and strawberries. Sometimes the other staff members will assist with this daily activity, usually clothed or partially clothed, but Tom’s participation is always anticipated and met with a jovial spirit and adds to the light-hearted and whimsical environment. Sadly, Tom and Mary Clare recently lost their long time canine companion, Godiva. While she is truly missed and remembered fondly, Godiva’s legacy lives on with the new addition of Jude. The assumed to be German Shepherd and Labrador mixed puppy is quickly growing into her large paws. Of course, switching from a mature and laid back dog to a mischievous puppy is a bit of a challenge to both patrons and owners alike. However, Jude is winning hearts with her vivacious and playful love of her daily visitors and playmates.