I grew up in a very modest home. Full nudity was confined to the bathroom and only consisted of shower or bath time. I do not remember ever seeing anyone else in the house nude. Perhaps that is why nudity fascinated me as a teen (beyond the normal curiosity about sex, etc.).
Someplace around seventh grade, I began reading fantasy novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs and Conan books by Robert E. Howard. The covers of these paperback books featured brilliant paintings by Frank Frazetta or Boris Vallejo. A lot of them involved nudity by members of both genders. The nudity wasn’t of a sexual nature; the characters in the paintings were involved in other endeavors. Lots of them involved combat, where I figured nudity was undoubtedly not advantageous.
The narratives in the books featured scenes of casual nudity fairly frequently, particularly the Martian novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Both John Carter (from World) and the Martian characters believed nothing of running around in the altogether. In fact, the John Carter character’s system of transportation to Mars constantly demanded him waking up naked somewhere on the planet. My young head wondered what such a location would be like, where one could be young nudist pic to be oneself and not be ashamed.
I had just learned of “nudist colonies” as if they were a distant phenomenon (the movie “A Shot in the Dark” being http://videonudism.com/nude ). In high school, I heard rumors that there was a nudist camp somewhere in our county, but in the days before the Net, a teenager like me had no clue where to go to find out more.
I eventually graduated high school and went off to college. While I was there, I met a young lady who was an art major. She mentioned in passing that she drew naked models in her figure drawing class. The thought of modeling for this type of class was both scary and exciting at the exact same time. I ventured over to the art building and saw a sheet on a bulletin board advertising for versions. They were paying five dollars, which, in the time, was better than every other occupation I could get. I went to the Tuesday evening open figure drawing session and made an effort to lure the female model there. My drawings were terrible, but I wasn’t overly interested in drawing. I wanted to watch a session and see the way the model acted, was treated, etc. It took me awhile to collect the nerve to join as a model myself, but I finally did.
I got a call from the coordinator of such open session. His model had canceled for that night, and he needed someone to cover. I accepted somewhat unwillingly. Once I hung up the phone, I recognized that the class began in under an hour. I took a long walk around campus before going into the studio.
There were just two girls who’d shown up to attract that night. It was election night, and I’m sure a lot of folks stayed home to see the returns.
I did not even have a robe, but the female model I had noticed had not had one either. I simply stripped down beside the modeling platform. I got down to my knickers, took a deep breath, and slipped them away. There I was. The two ladies did not run screaming that there clearly was a naked guy in the room. I took my poses and got more comfortable as the evening went on.
-Dan H.
Fort Worth, Texas
Surprised the Supervisor
My wife and I were interested in trying out the nudist experience. While in Ohio, on vacation, we chose to visit Paradise Gardens (outside Cincinnati). When we drove up the road, passed through the gates and found a parking place, we couldn’t see the office, merely a sign pointing to where it was. Getting out of the car, we shucked our clothes, grabbed a towel and went searching for the office.
When we explained to the manager that we were neophytes, she exclaimed, “This is your first time and you also are already nude!”
Yes, we were, and we certainly enjoyed our say at the gardens.
-Juan
Pennsylvania
OY VEY! My Jewish Mother
I was raised by a Jewish mom who taught me that showing skin was the worst thing on earth. She also instilled in me that my body was definitely not amazing or perfect. I heard it on a regular basis. Cover up. I even had to wear shoes in the home when visitors came, because my toes were “odd looking” in her eyes.
At 25, my then boyfriend told me about a nude beach he was really going to every weekend. (Pirates Cove in Malibu). He needed me to go with him. I believed he was crazy. I resisted at first, but then he finally talked me into it. He assured we would leave if I couldn’t handle it.
I scaled the stone with trepidation. We got onto the seashore, I threw my stuff on the sand, looked around and went WOW! It took me perhaps 20 seconds to take my clothes away. That entire summer was like the summer that I fell in love with myself and my body for the first time ever.
At the end of the summer, we broke up; and I never went to another nude beach or resort until I was 42. I missed it. I felt like something was missing. No one would go with me. Finally, at 42, some buddies confessed to me that they were nudists; and that they belong to Glen Eden. My reaction was pure excitement.
I begged them to take me. We ordered it for the following weekend. I was so excited that I made myself ill. Nothing was going to stop me. I went anyhow, and that was the day I rediscovered myself-the day I became extremely alive and whole again. That was 1993. Today, I live in a nudist resort in Land O’ Lakes, Florida; and I’m so blessed in order to dwell here. As a single gal, I feel safe.
-Linda
Land O’ Lakes, Florida
We Never Looked Back
We were interested, anxious and fearful, all at the same time. We studied various alternatives and chose “The Terra Cotta Inn” at Palm Springs for our first time trip. Once we walked in, it was obvious this wasn’t going to be our normal vacation. We were shown around the grounds by Mary Clare and then went to our room to get unpacked.
After a couple of minutes, we ventured outside and my wife was sure she would leave the bottom half of her swim suit on. After less than 5 minutes, she saw that she was the sole man with anything on and quickly took them away.
On that first trip, we met fantastic people that have become life long friends and can not envision life without nude diversion.
If you have thought of trying it, stop thinking and start planning. You won’t regret it.
-DJ
California
This Changed My Life
One day when my parents were not home I was in my robe alone in the house. I would get two weeks home alone and it was summer so when they left I went outside and let the robe drop to the ground. I realized the cool summer breeze and the way it felt so good so I got into the hot tub. Amazing!
For the rest of that summer I did not put on garments. My parents were frightened at first but they realized this was what made me joyful.
-Danielle
Doylestown, Pennsylvania