Nudity and Sex

Is nudity about sex? So many times I’ve been asked this question. The truth is… well, the answer is no… but maybe kinda…

We’ve come to associate nudity with sex because our culture has imbued within us the idea that the only time it is acceptable to be naked in the company of others is for sex. So true to our training, as soon as our pants come down sexual feelings arise. But this is not how it has to be nor is it how we as humans started our journey.

You see nudity is just about life and all that it comprises. Nudism is about doing all of the things that we would normally do, just without clothing. This can include reading, watching TV, household chores, sports and yes, sometimes even sex, but sex is not the point.

But why? Why would we want to do things naked when we’ve been doing them so well for our whole lives with clothes on? Here are some of my reasons:

• Being naked helps us to come to acceptance of your body and helps free us from body-shame.
• Being naked allows us to see the variety of other people’s bodies and to accept this variety as natural and normal.
• Being naked allows us to see and accept the natural occurrence of aging so that our fear of aging is diminished.
• Being naked forces us to lower the walls that we’ve built around us a little enabling us to have true and meaningful person-to-person sharing.
• People are just nicer and friendlier when they’re naked.
• People are more accepting when they’re naked.
• But most of all, being naked is fun.

About Me

I thought I'd update my personal profile, then decided to make it a post as well...

Hmm, so what shall I say about myself. I'm a wannabe nudist and aspiring exhibitionist. Don't ask me why, because I couldn't tell you. My blog is a place where I write about absolutely nothing interesting at all.

Other things about me:

• Love to travel
• Play way too much tennis
• Engaged in a life-long persuit of the Spanish language
• Took a language immersion class in Barcelona (twice) and planning to repeat
• Favorite nearby getaway: Rehoboth Beach and Ft. Lauderdale
• Favorite slightly further getaway: Ft.Lauderdale/ Haulover
• Biggest public nudity experiences: Baby-to-breakers race and Folsom street fair (twice)
• Always loved to play sports and currently play tennis 3 times per week
• Handy with a computer (it pays my bills)
• Graduated from Jerry Falwell's university
• Love to be nude even in public

And most of all I'm just a nice guy that loves people. I think we were all at least a little weird so have a philosophy that allows others to be themselves. The one thing I despise most is people that mistreat others.

A Picture and a Story

These pictures were taken during my first stay at the GNI Gathering in 2008. It was the first time that I had gone 'camping' in very long time since the first time that I had convinced the BF to go.

For those unfamiliar with the event, GNI takes over a campground in rural Pennsylvania for 10 days. The full week is dedicated to camping naked and is attended by 800 naked guys.

The week was magical for me. It's funny how if you're naked long enough with others, that you actually forget all about the nudity. What I loved most about this weekend was the same thing that first drew me to underwear night at the Green Lantern, then ultimately to naked events in the first place. In fact, it is one of the things that I find most satisfying and fulfilling in the world. That is that I just loved the closeness and honest sharing that I had between me and others. It is part of human nature that we all want to be part of something and to be close to others, yet we (and society) erect barriers designed to protect us that, unfortunately, have also alienate us from this basic need.

So who did I meet? Far too many people to tell, but some of the ones that I still keep in contact with are:

• A group of Columbians, particularly two from New York that I love and still call friends,
• A couple of Canadians from Ottawa, and
• The greatest and sweetest guy originally from Pennsylvania, now living with his partner in Boston.

Since that time, I've run into people I've met at GNI at various places across the country including several people in San Francisco, Ft. Lauderdale and Key West.

The backdrop in the first picture shows the man-made lake at the campgrounds. It is larger than it appears in the picture as only a portion of it is visible. The camp has paddle and row boats as well as kayaks available for use whenever you please. Many of the activities take place near the lake including some of the cocktail parties, naked wrestling, daily volleyball and many others.

These next two pictures were taken by a friend from DC called Camera Guy. We had met him many times since he used to go to the GL Underwear parties. He had offered to take some naked pictures of me on several occasions so when I saw him at GNI, I definitely took him up on the offer.

Burning Man Update

So I've talked about possibly going to Burning Man before here, here and touched upon it here as one of things I would like to accomplish this year.

It started to look a little dismal since this is just not the kind of thing I feel comfortable doing myself. I have no problem being on my own in new places, but the extreme conditions of BM makes me feel much more comfortable if I had a little bit of a support system.

Well just when I was starting to doubt, a fellow member of one of the local, nudist groups posted a message asking if anyone was interested. Of course I replied along with 3 others. One has already dropped out, but the remaining two seem committed. We have yet to meet in person due to the being snowed-out (or in), despite several attempts. Since connecting electronically with my possible future fellow burners, I have been looking into what I would have to do to prepare and as a result am starting to believe that I can make this work even if the group falls apart. The amount of preparation that goes into this thing is enormous, but honestly I believe that even that is part of the experience.

We've electronically discussed several options for shelter including the Green Tortoise. The good part is that they supply food, transportation and lodging. The bad is that it might be a little too structured for me, especially if I decide that it isn't working for me. One of the guys has a 4 man tent, which is my preference. We also briefly mentioned the possibility of renting an RV, but that is both expensive, risky and I've read that many campers don't like being too close to an RV and their noisy generators.

I've also started building a list of things I'd need. It still incomplete, but I figured if I start one, then I'd have someplace to make notes when I come across good ideas. So far the list has over 40 items on it, and I haven't even listed any clothes yet. I figure I won't much clothing anyway, except to ward off the chill during the evenings.

Maybe...

I read this article today and I can't tell you how good it felt just to know that healthcare still has a chance. If it doesn't pass now, it likely won't come up again in any meaniful way for the next 10 years or more. It isn't perfect, but it is good and addresses many of the most troublesome issues about our current system. I absolutely astounds me that such a necessary change is boiled down to one-liners as if this were a move and these one-liners, however true or dishonest they may be, may ultimately alter the lives and deaths of millions.

Political Lies

I know... the title is a little redundant. Anyway, I came across this graph the other day and thought it striking.

Now, I don't want to read too much into this graph, because I'm not sure that the start of the recession is all Bush's fault any more than I believe that the turnaround in-progress is completely Obama's doing (although as unpopular as they were, I think the bank bailout brought us back from the brink of disaster and stimulus probably helped bend the curve a little).

My only point is that saying the opposite is disingenuous and hurts our nation in that when all of the political discussion by the supposed experts and leaders focus on known lies, solely for political gain, it obfuscates the real issues and discussions that must take place.

Liberty or Death

So I keep seeing this image appear on the right of my facebook page and being a Liberty graduate (prior posting here), I think I'm going to finally give in and join. In spite of their craziness that they espouse, I do have fond memories and many friends.

Goodbye FTL

More FTL

Yesterday we spent the day on the beach where I ran into someone that I had met from Chicago. He has the most beautiful, fuzzy ass. It always amazes how often we run into people we know when travelling. The beach was beautiful, with just enough sun to make it comfortable even though it was fairly windy.

Fuzzy ass.

Naked At Last

These past few weeks I really haven't had any chances to be naked. It's not that there weren't things going on, but a combination of travel when events were taking place combined with our severe weather just meant that the stars haven't aligned. In fact, the last time I was naked with others was the New Years party.

That all said, I just can't say how nice it is to finally be in sunny and warm weather.

Indiscreet

Craziness

So me and 7 of friends were supposed to be heading off for Ft Lauderdale today and tomorrow. If anyone's following DC weather, you'll know that we have had (a) record snow fall this season, (b) a 20+ inch snow storm this past weekend and (3) in the midst of one helluva snow storm right now with wind storms up to 50 miles per hour.

One friend was not impacted since he was leaving from Richmond, where they were forecasted to get less snow than here. I helped arrange for another 4 of us to rent a one-way van to drive down to Ft. Lauderdale yesterday and the final 3 are renting another vehicle today.

We'll were just about 2 hours away from our destination. Inspite of the long drive, we're actually arriving a full day early since we left early to get out before the storm got too bad. The drive itself was relatively easy since there were 4 drivers between us and more than enough room for 2 people to stretch out and lay down at the same time. The weather's not going to as warm as I would like, but we're looking temperatures ranging from 68 to 72 degress.

Let it Snow

This weekend DC and most of the east coast got hit by yet another big snow storm. This storm was the biggest one yet, and keep in mind that we had already passed last years complete snow fall weeks ago! Anyway, the area got anywhere from 18 to 33 inches depending on exactly where you lived. I've now shoveled snow on 4 consecutives days. Below is a picture of my street:

Pictures

Mystery Solved

Over the past month or so I've been having trouble sleeping. Normally, I can put my head down and be out within a few minutes, but these months even when I managed to get to sleep I haven't been able to sleep a full night without repeatedly awaking throughout the night.


Well my recent trip to Vegas has helped me solve the mystery. While there I had no trouble sleeping at all. The first night back in my own bed was even better. It was the best sleep I had had for quite a while. All this helped me develop a theory… Could it be the coffee? Now I know this seems like a no-brainer, but keep in mind that I've always drank significant amounts of coffee so I hadn't suspected this as a likely cause.

My experiment began the next day. I went to work and drank my normal 3 mega-cups of coffee. I'm guessing that this equates to roughly 6 to 8 normal cups (see mega-cup below).

Well, that first night after being back to my normal coffee routine landed me back to my normal restless nights. The solution… I've bought some instant decaf (I know, yuck!). I now allow myself 2 mega-cups of half-regular/half-decaf so long as it is before 2pm. If I want a 3rd another cup I've restricted myself to a cup of full-decaf.

Since the change, I've been sleeping much better.

Full Burn

A fellow member of one of the local nudist groups posted the following:

Anyone planning to go, interested in going? Looking to link up with one or more for my first time. Let me know, thanks!

Woohoo! Since then we’ve communicated a number of times to discuss travel there, arrival city, shelter, food, water and everything else. Two other members also responded so as it stands there are 3 or 4 of us. Since the BF has definitely said HELL NO, I have been hoping to find someone who to go with since the logistics of such a trip seem way to daunting to attempt alone for my first time. We’re discussing a range of options including the Green Tortoise Bus and renting a van and sleeping in a large tent that one of the guys has who has been there before. For the first time I’m feeling like this might really happen. Woohoo!