It is not that difficult, really.
If you are learning about nude recreation, you may have heard about how nudists come in all shapes, size, colors and ages. Yes, tou will fit in no matter what you look like. Yet, some of you may be worried about being offended by what you'll see - by what other people look like. I can assure you, what other people look like is a non-issue.
Some reasonable questions by someone new to nude recreation:
With a long hot summer upon us and ever increasing energy costs, there's one way to beat the heat and surging prices. Get naked!
Getting naked in the comfort of your home is easy. First, be sure the window blinds are closed. Then, just remove your clothing the same way your do when taking a shower.
Simple.
Cloth coverings (clothes) keep heat in, making humans hot and sweaty. The cloth material keeps the heat in and radiates the heat, making you hotter. What do you do when hot? You turn the fans and air conditioners to high. I know you do.
Your hot and sweaty clothes now need to be washed in the washing machine and then dried in a dryer.
Air conditioners, washers and dryers use electricity. Electricity costs more money each year. The washing machine also adds to the water bill.
Being without clothes costs nothing. It's cooler and may keep you from turning on the A/C. You may even need to wash less clothing.
Now, I'm not saying go out and be a nudist and visit nude beaches and the likes. But it sure does seem like a good idea to be naked in the comfort of your own home.
I remember one time seeing some residents of a naturist campground building a deck in front of their trailer. They worked without wearing anything. I thought: "Wow, I wish I could do that at home. It seems like such a natural way to do house work."
The only option for most people is to do housework indoors. Just keep the curtains shut!
If you've never tried doing housework without clothes, give it a try. You'll thank me for the idea. It is a way to try naturism/nudism and to see that being without textile material covering your skin is simply natural.
Why? You'll probably find the experience very natural and refreshing. Most people avoid vacuuming the rug, but the chore becomes more comfortable without clothes. It is like taking a shower and the refreshing feeling of being naked in a natural state.
Have to clean the bathroom? Do it before or after taking the day's shower. It is very convenient not to have to put on clothing.
Already do this? I'm not surprised. Doing housework without clothes is common amongst many people - even those who are not aware of this thing defined as nudism or naturism.
What's the first thing people take off at nudist resorts and clothing optional beaches?
Pants.
Pants. Who needs them?
To celebrate going without pants, a group has created No Pants Day. Though it has no relation to nudist recreation or the "nudist community", it seems worth mentioning. No Pants Day is a day where "everyone, be they students, respectable businessmen, or cherished community leaders, leave their pants behind. Usually this means wearing thick, appropriately modest boxer shorts, but bloomers, slips, briefs, and boxer-briefs all work as well."
No Pants Day is a fun event not intended to cause harm. There are no profound goals, like nudism, and the goal is just to have fun. As the No Pants Day websites states: "When large groups of people parade around in public without their pants, amazing things are bound to happen. At the very least, you’ll take your drab, wretched life a little less seriously, at least for one day."
Who can argue with that?
UK's 16,000-member strong naturist organization, British Naturism (BN), has some basic introductory information about naturism and a list of UK naturist destinations worth checking out.
They refer to the International Naturist Federation (INF) definition of naturism: "A way of life in harmony with nature characterised by the practice of communal nudity, with the intention of encouraging self-respect, respect for others and for the environment."
Author Michele Hartley on About.com provided a nice overview on German nudist attitudes here in the article "Nude in Germany - German Nudists Bare All".
Here's some of the key points relevant to Nudist Beginnings readers:
"Nudism in Germany is not shocking, it is daily life. German nudists are everyday people like you and me. The first documented nudist camp was established just outside of Hamburg in 1904 by Paul Zimmerman,..." (Michele Hartley via About.com)That's so different from the United States nudist experience where nudism has growing acceptance but is still considered strange by many. Most American nudists keep their nudism private from coworkers and even family.
"Freikörperkultur (free body culture or FKK for short) has a huge following with campsites and vacations spots for the entire family. Germans don't mind nudity. It is accepted and sometimes expected, as in most saunas, where bathing suits are generally verboten or at least looked upon as an oddity." (Michele Hartley via About.com)It sure seems that Germany is a different way of life when it comes to body acceptance and freedom. According to Hartley, anyone can be clothesfree and not have to worry about being judged.
"Sunbathing in the nude is commonplace in the major city parks around Germany (including Berlin) and the beaches are very often clothing optional. Whole families (from Grandma down to toddler) frolic on the beaches naked." (Michele Hartley via About.com)Sure makes me want to consider visiting Germany someday. I'll certainly be looking into it further and reporting more here and on my nudist travel blog.
