NothingToDread.com

I'd love to go to one of those places, but my ass is scary...

Oh my god! You're a naked monster...

Those are just three examples of the comments made by people to whom I mentioned this weeks visit to The Terra Cotta Inn. While not all negative, all three were reminders of the prevailing perception about social nudism and why open dialog is needed to erase those misconceptions. Well, except for the part about being a naked monster. I am a bit of a beast.

I really needed this trip. We haven't been getting out much, and I was beginning to forget why I enjoy social nudism. It was great to see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, relax and feel comfortable in their own skins despite the ravages of time and gravity. I was surrounded by smiling and happy people who were unconcerned about that unattainable image of perfection that drives men and women to a state of self-loathing and insecurity. Scary ass my hairy ass... All you have to do is it look at the brightly lit faces around the pool to know that those days of worry ended within hours of even the heaviest nudist's first visit to a nudist venue.

I've visited other "clothing optional" clubs and resorts, but The Terra Cotta Inn was the first place where I saw several people exercise the option. A couple of the ladies were merely topless while a third chose a two-piece bikini. My wife suspects that Bikini Girl just wanted tan lines. It doesn't matter. I like the fact that Terra Cotta Inn provides a safe atmosphere for women who may need a little more time to ease into a comfortable state of social nudity. I especially prefer it to the other extreme that results in trips to "nudist" facilities being planned around menstrual cycles, or the silliness of scarlet wristbands announcing Aunt Flow's arrival. I did think that the dude who showed up for breakfast in his boxer shorts was a bit questionable, but what the hell; to each his own.

Another first occurred this week at Terra Cotta Inn. Up until now, I've been reluctant to show my face here at nothingtodread.com. This week, I allowed myself to be photographed from my hair to my toenails with everything between the two fully exposed.

Three month's ago, I found myself closing in on 270 pounds. I spent most of my free time with a couch growing out of my ass. There wasn't anything wrong with me that required medication or hospitalization, but I probably wasn't very healthy. Random aches, pains, and digestive complaints led to my doctor ordering a colonoscopy. I didn't like the way I felt, and I sure as hell wasn't too pleased with my appearance. I started making changes in my life, and today I feel like a new man.

The above photo was taken about a week after I joined a weight loss program. The first week or two were a little rocky, so I bought a bicycle. Up until then, I hadn't ridden a bicycle since I was a teenager. Hell, I wasn't even sure the old line about learning and never forgetting was true. In the beginning, I was pretty happy riding five miles. Now, I've increased my daily ride to twenty plus miles with a forty-mile ride on Sundays.

Next Sunday, I'll be participating in the Acura L.A. Bike Tour. The bike tour is part of the City of Los Angeles Marathon Celebration. It's not a race or competitive event in any way shape or form, but it does mark a significant milestone in the life of this former couch potato.

The photo to the right was taken this morning. Nude update photos are in the not safe for work gallery. If you're really lazy, you can follow these links to specific photos - Nude Front View - Nude Side View (My Favorite) - Nude Rear View.

The trousers I'm wearing in the photo to the left fit a little snug ten weeks ago. I'm pretty happy about that. I'm not as happy about the fact that the trousers I bought a couple of weeks ago may also be destined for the donation bin sooner than I anticipated. I've lost around fifty pounds in ten weeks, and on Monday I'll start another round of weight loss with the intent of losing another fifteen or twenty pounds. Despite what most height and weight charts would indicate, past experience has taught me that 195 to 200 pounds is about as low as I should go. I'm at 215 now, so the last few pounds shouldn't take long to lose.

I haven't had new measurements taken since week seven of the first round of weight loss, but I expect I'll have new numbers to post Monday. The masochists among you can find today's nude shots in the NothingToDread.com Nude Weight Loss Photo Gallery.

I haven't had much to write about lately. Christmas was pleasant despite a Christmas Eve cold that had the good manners to depart by Christmas morning. I'm not completely convinced it was a cold. It may have been a case of pollen flirting with my histamine following a 20 mile bike ride I took Monday. Man, you just have to love Southern California weather.

Anyway, Christmas went well. We had a small family get together, and I went just slightly weight loss plan reservation, but I didn't go nuts. What are a few extra carbohydrates between friends on Christmas?

Speaking of weight loss...

Somehow or another, today works out to be the first day of the seventh week of my participation in the aforementioned weight loss plan. The clinic was closed Monday and Thursday, so things have been pushed out a bit. My weight loss this week isn't as dramatic as it has been in the past, but it is nothing to sneeze at either. As usual, nude photos are lurking behind all not so nude photos. Also, I decided to punish those of you who have lacked the intestinal fortitude to go beyond the clothed versions of my progress photos by going shirtless in this week's installment. What's the worse that can happen? I'm sure the blindness will only be temporary.

Last night I figured out how to use Automator and iCal to turn my MacBook Pro into an iTunes alarm clock. I set a 6:00 am wakeup call in iCal, and was awakened by one of my personal iTunes playlists instead of one chosen by the computer at my local classic rock station. The music began at six; I rolled out of bed around six thirty'ish, and rode my new Trek 7.3 FX hybrid bicycle approximately 5 miles to my local Lindora weight loss clinic.

The Lindora girls were full of surprises today. First, this is the third week of my program. Wow, I could have sworn that it has been much longer. I was weighed, measured, and injected. In my riding clothes (Riding shorts, tshirt, sneakers, and socks, I tipped the scales at a very respectable 247.4 pounds. I say 247.4 pounds are very respectable, because I began this program at 264.4 pounds fully clothed (Including titanium toed work boots). I quote these numbers with such accuracy because the nurse was kind enough to give me a printout of my stats to date. I've also managed to lose three inches off my waist, two inches off my chest, and 3.5 inches off my abdomen. I'm pretty happy about dropping 17 pounds in less than three weeks. I'm even happier about my blood pressure reading (116/68). My blood pressure was never "high", but it's been a long time since I've seen numbers like 116/68. Maybe eating like a hamster isn't a bad idea after all.

I wasn't planning on posting more pictures for a couple of weeks, but I didn't realize that this checkpoint was coming so soon. Apparently, the next checkpoint is in a couple of weeks so I'll post pictures at the beginning of week 5 also. I wasn't as happy about tonight's photos as I was by today's news. To be honest with you, I don't see much of a difference between these pictures and the ones from week one. The most dramatic changes to my appearance appear to be in my face, but I'm not ready to share that yet; if ever. Another disappointing feature of tonight's photos is manifest in the appearance of an apparent bald spot on the back of my head. I was happier when I didn't know it was there. Note to self: wear a clean shirt and comb your hair before the next photo session.

Like last time around, every photo in this article has a nude equivelent that more acurately depicts my current condition. Clicking on any of these clothes photos will result in the coresponding nude image appearing on your display. This may not be for the feint of heart. If you choose to click on any of these images, be warned; I cannot be held responsible for the resulting loss of employment, reputation, or partially digested lunch. I may be losing inches and pounds (And a bit more hair than I thought, but I honestly don't see it in any of these pictures. Hopefully the week five photos (comming in two weeks) will show a more dramatic change in my appearance.

In my last post, I mentioned that I would be including photographs chronicling the progress of my expected weight loss participating in the Lindora comprehensive weight loss program and riding my new bike. I also mentioned that I would have more to write about that subject in an upcoming (This) post. The decision to post photos of myself, especially unflattering photos, wasn't an easy one. I also gave a lot of thought to what kind of photos I should post and the frequency of those postings. There really isn't any reason to post daily updates, and not much of a point to weekly ones either. I figure that every two or three weeks should be enough. Maybe I'll recycle some in the interim. I'm actually beating around the bush. The hardest decision involved clothing.

Despite the fact that I write a lot about nudism and nudity, I've kept the nude content on this site to a minimum. Other than the partial nudity on my banner image, and a humorous cigar rolling video, there really hasn't been any nudity posted on these pages. That's about to change. I've decided that the nude photos will best depict the effects of my past weight gain and anticipated weight loss.

I've always been reluctant to post nude photos of myself. Nobody should have to stumble upon nude photos of overweight middle-aged men. In keeping with that philosophy, I will be fully clothed in the photos that initially load with each post. Click on a photo if you wish to see its nude equivalent.

My goal here isn't to show off photos of my penis. I'll be the first to say that it isn't anything to brag about. Of course that wasn't an issue when photographing myself from the rear, and I was able to conceal it by positioning my leg just so in the profile shots, but the front shots were a little tricky. I experimented with covering my genitals with my hand (Yea, yea, it's that small), but I just looked like I was fondling myself in those photos. It's funny how trying to conceal my nudity just made it more provocative. I thought about a blur, etc., but ultimately decided not to obscure my genitals in those shots. The purpose of sharing these nude shots is to display the effects of those extra pounds and folds. My ultimate decision not to hide was strongly influenced by the fact that nobody will view those photos unintentionally.

Anyway, expect to see updated photos every two or three weeks. If you're the sort of masochist who wants to see it all, just click on a clothed photo to see its nude equivalent. I have to warn you that it isn't pretty. You have nobody to blame but yourself if you experience nausea or loss of appetite. This week's photos were actually taken when I was about a week and a half into the program. Future installments may include side by side comparison shots. We'll see how that goes. I've lost a little weight since they were taken, but I probably will not post another photo update until next week.

Another blogger recently compared the inclusion of sexual and nudist content on the same page to someone who loves knitting creating a site about knitting while having sex. I'm paraphrasing, but the gist of their argument is that those of us who irresponsibly include sexual content on our sites about nudism come dangerously close to blurring the line between the two. I'm a nudist, and I like sex. I write about both at nothingtodread.com. This isn't a sex site, and it isn't a nudist site. nothingtodread.com is a place adult discussion. Nudism may be a family activity, but it isn't necessarily for every family. If I ever take up knitting while having sex, I'll write about it here. Hell, I might even include a photo or two if I just happen to be knitting a very large blanket.

Old and fat, young and slim, smooth and... Well, not. I looked around the pool at almost every size shape and flavor of nudist one could imagine. I tried to look at it all with a fresh eye. What would it be like to step into the world of the nude for the very first time? I looked around the pool and I tried to imagine something other than a woman reading a book, talking to her husband, or taking a lap in the pool. I tried to imagine something exciting, provocative, or erotic about the whole scene. Pages continued to turn, couples talked, and the swimmer climbed onto a float.

I briefly mistook a Montana housewife for the female costar of a USA Network original series. I ran through a mental checklist. Mrs. Montana appeared to be the same height as the Mrs. USA. They shared the same smile, and they appeared to be equally tan. They both had dark hair; Mrs. Montana had light colored streaks (Highlights?) in hers. Despite the similarities, I realized that unless Mrs. USA had followed up filming with breast augmentation, Mrs. Montana was not the female costar of a USA Network original series.

I've experienced several off-screen celebrity sightings (None of them nude), but they're rare enough that I find them somewhat noteworthy when they occur. My faux nudist celebrity sighting got me thinking about the comparison between some people's reaction to the idea of nudism and the way we often react to famous people. I might call my wife after meeting a TV star at an airport, but would I call her if I worked in television? How big would that star have to be? I just can't imagine a celebrity sighting meaning much if celebrities are a regular part of your life. The same can be said about nudity.

I looked around that pool. I studied Mrs. Montana and some of the other more attractive women around the pool at Desert Shadows Inn last week. I tried to imagine the provocative angle that some might expect, and it just wasn't there. I was nude, they were nude, we were all comfortable. It was all so... routine.

Looking for nudism on the Internet? You're probably not going to find it. Instead you'll find still and video images, and a whole lot of text. Lately, I haven't had much of an opportunity to practice social nudism. If not for the occasional game of naked backgammon at Brutus and Roxanne's, my social nudity would be limited to the virtual kind. That's a problem. Too much VR can warp one's sense of reality. I've pointed out a couple of times that we don't write about our day to day nudist activities because what goes on isn't very interesting.

What goes on at a naked backgammon game? Not much more than you would see at any other game of backgammon; a whole lot of smoking, coffee drinking, whining and complaining about the "dice gods". The funny thing is that Roxanne wanted us to play on a glass table, but Brutus insisted on a solid top. Why play nude backgammon in a friend's home? Or, why do it if it isn't very interesting? I'll answer those questions with a question. Why wear your most comfortable pair of shoes, pants, or shirt? The answer is obvious. You like to be comfortable, and you can be around your friends. In the case of nude backgammon, we're doing it to help acclimate Brutus to the lifestyle. Roxanne would like to explore a couple of resorts, clubs, or beaches, but Brutus isn't ready. He seems comfortable at our games, but he's still concerned about that mythical third party who might x, y, or z.

That's the funny thing about men. We like to think that we're in charge, in control, the shot callers and the decision makers. We decide what's right for our spouses, what they can tolerate or stand, and we attempt to shelter them from things that they can't handle. Then we learn that they are the one's with the adventurous spirits, and we can't handle what they're up to. That's the case with Brutus and Roxanne. She's ready to go, explore, and try new things. Instead she assures Brutus that it's all just a passing phase. She is protecting him from the things that he "the man of adventure" can't handle. Dear, sweet, innocent Roxanne is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Big bad Brutus may as well be Mary's little lamb.

I Bet you're wondering where I'm going with all of this...

The situation at Brutus and Roxanne's has another layer to it. Roxanne isn't merely interested in nudist exploration; she would also like to expand their sexual horizons. Other than share experiences and suggestions, I can't really help them with the latter, but it adds another dimension to their saga. That's where we're going. Nudists are just like anybody else; the only place you'll really hear different is online. Don't confuse non-sexual nudity with an asexual existence. I recently had a conversation with a literal born and bread lifelong Australian nudist who.. insert gasp here... told me that she sometimes becomes mildly aroused by the nudity at her favorite nude beach. That's where talk of "true nudism" enters the picture.

True nudism can get an online debate absolutely raging. I bounce around on the issue a little. I agree that nobody owns "nudism", and people should be able to do what they want so long as nobody is hurt. That includes various sexual practices that occur in nude environments that allow them. That said, I also recognize a need for clarity. I like words that are specific and not dynamic in nature. There's probably a word or phrase that communicates the idea that you are trying to express, so use it. Don't co-opt something as specific as nudism and try to force it to fit every situation involving social nudity. It just won't fit. To paraphrase Nudiarist, streaking is streaking, modeling is modeling, and nudism is nudism. I've always viewed the public practice of nudism as a non-sexual experience. Generally speaking, I apply the mother test. Aside from the nudity, I wouldn't do anything amongst nudists that I wouldn't do in front of my mother. Clothed or not, that's been a good rule to follow in several social settings.

Where I part ways with many online pundits is that I judge a nudist on how he behaves as a nudist. Some insist that if one is ever aroused by nudity, they're not a "true nudist". I don't believe that. I believe that nudity can, and frequently is, presented in such a way and setting that it is highly erotic. I've written that it take more than just showing up nude to turn me on, but I would not be truthful if I said that I never find nudity arousing. Fully clothed women arouse me. Why wouldn't the sight of a nude woman under in an appropriate setting have the same affect? There are those who would say that you can't just turn that on and off. I disagree. We recognize our environments and we behave accordingly. I'm sure my wife is sexually attracted to me, but she's not instantly aroused every time she sees me. As I've written before, familiarity breeds disinterest.

Despite what several online discussions would lead you to believe, I've always felt that social nudism does draw a more sexually adventurous demographic. I could be wrong, but that's just my opinion. I think that Brutus and Roxanne are a perfect example of that theory. Despite Brutus' objections, Roxanne has a sexually adventurous spirit. More about conversations I've had with Roxanne may be covered in a future article. On the other hand, Brutus claims to be adventurous, and be brags about his conquests, but he is clearly afraid of sex and his own sexuality. It took a little time to get the big B comfortable with our backgammon sessions, but little R has taken to our Tuesday night sessions like a fish to water. I firmly believe that comfort with sexuality is the key element. A certain absence of sexual inhibition may be what allows the nudist to distinguish between sexual and non-sexual nudity.

The danger in reading and not living nudism is that you allow a certain circular discussion that has been orbiting the Internet since its inception to warp your perception of what nudism is as practiced. You'll often find that what is discussed in Usenet and the blogsphere has less to do with nudism than it does the continuation of the same old talking points. Nudists seldom sit around talking about "true nudism", "true nudists", or what we want to call ourselves. I'm sure clubs have meetings where they discuss recruitment, and the younger generation, but for the most part we just sit around talking, swimming, and getting to know one another.

I have a few more opportunities to explore Second Life and virtual nudism. I have to say that it is fascinating. For the most part the atmosphere at Nudist Paradise mimics that found at most real life nudist clubs and resorts. The primary difference that everybody you encounter is in perfect shape. I'm tempted to create an ugly old fat man avatar to balance things out, but why mess with paradise. If every female on the premises can look like a goddess, why shouldn't I walk around looking like a Achilles?

The international flavor of Second Life and Nudist Paradise is impressive. So far I've had the opportunity to meet Italians, Greeks, Australians, and a couple of French girls. Despite the fact that one of the French girls and I did not share a common language, we were able to communicate by way of a tool called Babbler that instantaneously translated what we typed. You gotta love technology.

Many people are under the impression that nudists are or against sex. That couldn't be further from the truth. I've had fantastic sex in the privacy of my own room, tent, or cabin at several nudist facilities. Like most well behaved adults, nudists have sex behind closed doors. Nudism isn't a sexual practice, but that does not make us a bunch of prudes. There is a lot of sexual content in Second Life. Some of it naturally spills over to Nudist Paradise. Much like real life nudism, sex at Nudist Paradise is limited to private areas of the resort.

When it comes to sex, Second Life is amazing. A wide array of scripted objects and bodily attachments are available that take sex far beyond your momma's brand of cyber-sex. I'll describe some of what I've found in a future post after I've had more time to explore, but here's an example: Avatars in Second Life can become visibly and physically aroused by their environment and the actions of others. Again, I'll write more in a future article.

I've had some fun exploring virtual nudity, sexuality, and other aspects of Linden's creation. I've been kicking around the idea of organizing an on-line virtual meet up for readers of this and some of the other blogs. It would be a great way for our alter egos to meet and get to know one another. Believe it or not, it might even be a good way for those of you who are still sitting on the fence to get a safe taste of what goes on in the nudist world. Of course, I can't guarantee an exact replica, and virtual nudity is not exactly the same as baring your own skin, but it's not a bad simulation. I'd be interested in receiving your feedback.

Nudiarist recently mentioned a Belgian police investigation that resulted from a virtual rape that allegedly occurred in the popular on-line game Second Life.

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 6,940,640 people from around the globe...

...The Marketplace currently supports millions of US dollars in monthly transactions. This commerce is handled with the in-world unit-of-trade, the Linden dollar, which can be converted to US dollars at several thriving online Linden Dollar exchanges.

What is Second Life?
http://secondlife.com/whatis/

I could spend a lot of time trying to explain the Linden Universe called Second Life, but someone would have to explain it to me first. The important thing to remember for the purposes of this article is that money changes everything. The exchange of cash for in game units of trade (Platinum, gold, Imperial Credits, etc) has long been a byproduct of the economy of online gaming. In Second Life, it's not a byproduct, it is the economy.

Last night, I went to the Second Life website, downloaded the free application, opened a free basic account and logged into Second Life for the very first time. What I found was unlike any virtual world I've ever encountered. In many ways the distinguishing factor was that the lines separating virtual from reality weren't as clear as I would have expected. I started searching for nudist groups, beaches, and resorts. A lot came up on my search screen, but like any Internet search most emphasized XXX more than they did social non-sexual nudity. I eventually found a club called "Nudist Paradise" (Landmark 198, 17, 69) that was more in line with the traditional nudist lifestyle.

I teleported in, and was greeted at the gate by the club hostess. She welcomed me to Nudist Paradise and she politely asked me to undress before beginning a tour of the premises. Not very different than most real world clubs I've visited. She showed me the swimming pool, hot tub, showers, sauna, dance floor, bar, and the grotto. The secluded grotto is the only place on the "property" where sexual behavior is allowed outside public rooms (A necessary concession to the masses). She then offered me the opportunity to join the club for thirty Linden dollars per month (I think that works out to about twelve cents US). It was in my budget so I agreed to join. Later she introduced me to the owner of Nudist Paradise (Who also happens to be the president of a real life nudist travel club), and I had the opportunity to witness a surreal interview/negotiation involving a DJ the club was hoping to hire for its upcoming grand opening (Streaming music is present in many of Second Life's simulations). The DJ proclaimed that he was cool with all lifestyles, but he was concerned about how his team might feel about the nudity. The club owner assured him that they could remain dressed if nudity was a problem. The DJ expressed further concern that one of the team-members, a stay at home mom, might have problems with her kids in the room (Have I mentioned that these are animated avatars I'm talking about). It eventually became clear to me that despite the penis attachment sported by his personal toon (Penises are not standard male equipment in SL), the DJ appeared to have a very real problem with virtual nudity.

"I'll work for you, but I don't want to be part of your group..."

I don't remember anybody asking, but I could have missed that part. What I witnessed was not roll play. This was a real negotiation involving real compensation between real people represented by virtual proxies. The issues were real. The DJ's concerns about nudity and his team's reactions would have been no more sincere had that discussion taken place on the grounds of any real world nudist club or resort in the United States. The fantasy becomes reality when you can take the dollars to the bank.

The naked blogosphere was virtually silent when Solair was planning its now infamous May 5 college day event. Following the event's conclusion, mainstream media picked up the story, and everybody followed suit by beating that "Oh dear, how can we attract the young?" drum. It's a nice beat, but I'm tired of dancing to it.

I have a question for you naked baby boomers. How old were you when you started participating in social nudism? I'm from the post baby boom generation, so I still tend to be younger than the baby boom majority. I was in my early twenties when I jumped into that naked pool, and I was virtually the sole representative of my age group everywhere I went for several years. As I got older, I began meeting people who were closer to my own age, but not until I was well into my thirties.

Did most of the baby boomers follow that same trend? Is it typical for participation to begin at a later age? If so, why do we keep having this conversation?

If you give people an inch, they'll want a foot. If you give them a foot, they'll ask for a yard. When they get the yard, they're going to want to put in a pool. I don't know who said that originally, but it was probably a lounge comedian from the 60s or 70s. Moderation is often incompatible with human nature. Last year we spent a lot of time writing about a bunch of teenagers who decided to explore social nudity in a downtown parking lot in Brattleboro, Vermont. Nudity is legal in Vermont, but local governments can pass ordinances banning or curtailing the practice as they see fit. That was the case in Brattleboro. The township considered passing an ordinance banning public nudity, but ultimately decided to table the topic when impending cold weather promised to settle the issue for the season.

Spring is in the air, and Nudiarist has brought it to our attention that things are again heating up in Brattleboro.

But now the backlash is starting early in the warm weather season, and the moralists are fine-tuning their arguments. Jerry Falwell might be dead but his political machine still thrives. Watch out, Vermont, the right to be nude at the old swimming hole is about to go the way of the Dodo bird.

When Nudists Attack
Diary of a Nudist
May 16, 2007

I agreed with Nudiarist last year when he wrote that nothing good could come out of the events unfolding in downtown Brattleboro, and I continue to stand behind that sentiment today. However, I'm less inclined to pin this on the right wing moralists than I am to blame those who are repeatedly unwilling to exercise restraint and practice moderation. I've never been to Brattleboro, but as far as I know nudity did not become an issue in that township until it wandered away from the old swimming hole and found its way to the town square.

Nudiarist has written an interesting piece exploring the compulsion to be nude vs. the compulsion to be dressed.

Why do people put on clothing to go to sleep? Why do people put on clothing to go swimming? Why do people put on clothing when they exercise, or when they do housework, when they get out of the shower in the morning, or even when they go outside to get some sun? It's the compulsion or need to be clothed.

The need to be clothed is based upon many factors, both cultural and religious, and reinforced by politics and laws. A very strong incentive to wear clothes is the fear of being arrested.

Compulsion to be Nude
Diary of a Nudist

Beyond our fear of being arrested, we all have reasons that compel us to get dressed. For example, I'm a cold sleeper so I like to sleep in a light pair of shorts and t-shirt. That's my standard sleeping attire even when I stay at a nude or clothing optional resort. Getting dressed is second nature for most people. We may argue that nudity is our natural state, but once again nurture asserts her primacy over nature. I may not think that it makes any sense to get dressed before entering a body of water, but I'm in the cheerful minority.

I've argued that the line separating the natural from unnatural can become rather blurred by conditioning. As natural as it is for us to be nude, it is just as natural for us to strive to maintain a sense of community with our neighbors.

Hey wait a minute, Nudiarist wasn't pondering the reasons we nudists are compelled to dress. Nudiarist was pondering the reasons our neighbors insist that we cover up before stepping out to get some sun. They're stuck on stupid. Sorry, I've always wanted to fit that line in to a post, but this probably wasn't the right time to use it. We all know the reason; for the most part, our neighbors are completely incapable of separating nudity from sex. Maybe I should strike that too. I don't believe they're incapable. They just don't want to. Myabe they're concerned about the survival of their species. Without nudity as an indicator that sex is imminent, Americanus Prudus might be in danger of following Neanderthal man down the path of extinction. We can only hope.

Ok, it is only natural to be excited by a nude member of the gender of your choosing who may be willing to have sex with you. Hell, it is only natural to be excited by nude member of the gender of your choosing who you imagine may be willing to have sex with you even if that nude member of the gender of your choosing is only a figment of your imagination. Of course I have a rich enough imagination to be excited by that same fantasy despite her state of dress or undress. When it comes right down to it, isn't the fact that she's willing to have sex with you the only part that really matters?

If nudity is the defining element of sexuality, why is the global lingerie market so large? I don't have any facts or figures, but people are spending a lot of money on clothing for the express purpose of attracting and titillating their mates. Ok, I'm off track. This really isn't about Nudiarist's article anymore. I can't help myself. Clothing can be sexy as hell.

Let's step back to backgammon night at Brutus and Roxanne's. I heard from one reader who complained that the description of Roxanne dressed in nothing but an apron made her think that the article was about to turn into one of those "I never thought this would happen to me" letters. I see her point. There was nothing erotic about that night, but Roxanne's initial attempt at modesty was sexier than she intended. She was wearing one of those bib aprons that covered her from the breast to just about mid quarter calf. The apron barely concealed her breasts, and the peak-a-boo effect created by the apron wasn't the tribute to modesty that she imagined. She removed the apron, and away went the hint of sexuality.

It's getting late, I got sidetracked, and I don't really remember where I was going with all of this. Why do we feel compelled to get dressed? Because that's all we've been taught from infancy. Somewhere down deep in our psyche we all know that nudity is our natural state of existence, but the defining trait of our species may very well be that we are the only beast that makes the conscious decision to forgo what comes naturally in order to behave in a most unnatural fashion. That's probably what makes antidepressants a more profitable line of business than sexy underwear.

Thanks to Tom Mulhall of the Terra Cotta Inn for pointing me in the direction of an article written by Kari Cobham at Daytona Beach News-JornalOnline.com about her first time visit to Sunny Sands clothing optional "resort" in Pierson, Florida. From the tone of Tom's breakdown I expected Kari's article to detail a miserably disastrous experience, but fortunately that was mostly due to Tom's signature marketing. However, Kari's article does point out some pitfalls that await newcomers unprepared for their first visit to many clothing optional "resorts".

As Kari discovered, many clothing optional facilities treat clothing as less of an option around the pool or hot tub. There are several explanations for these rules, and I won't bother going into them except to say that some of them have to do with helping newcomers take that first step into the deep end, while others help weed out the voyeurs. I myself am not very fond of these rules. Pressure makes diamonds and when you apply pressure to some people who may be on the edge of participation, you just harden their resolve not to participate. This may also become a problem when nature makes an inconvenient appearance and a girl feels a need to conceal certain hygiene items. In the case of Sunny Sands, Kari was simply advised that she could not enter the pool. She didn't seem to mind.

While not necessarily fly by night, many nude/clothing optional "resorts" and clubs lean towards the rustic. Facilities may be limited, and unless you're visiting a professionally run operation like Terra Cotta, be prepared to bring everything that you will need on your visit. They'll probably have a place for you to sit, but don't assume they'll have much else. There should be water in the pool, but there may not be any available to drink. Many of these so called "resorts" mostly rely on member participation to keep things going. The owners have day jobs, and everybody pulls together to do the best they can. They're more of a place than a business.

As Kari discovered, not all facilities are open during the week. Even larger properties have a tendency to shut down underutilized facilities during the week. One place I like to visit closes the restaurant on Wednesday, and the spa is closed both Tuesday and Wednesday. Avoid being unprepared by calling ahead. Even "stupid" questions can save you a lot of time and trouble.

Kari was unprepared and a little nervous on her first visit, and the article seems a bit over edited. It's nice to note that Kari was impressed by the comfort level displayed by other guests, and despite her acknowledgment of several inconveniences, Kari vowed to be better prepared on her next visit. I'm not sure if I agree with Tom's assumption that she was uncomfortable because nobody spent time with her. I got the impression that the other guests gave her some space but were more than approachable if she wanted company. On my first visit to a clothing option resort, I needed some time alone to let it all soak in, my wife described a similar reaction to her first visit.

Every person has different needs. For most, I probably would recommend a place like Terra Cotta for a first, second, and even third visit, but clubs and rustic resorts have an important place in the world of social nudity. Without affordable options, most nudists would be limited to one or two opportunities or less a year. Quality resorts like Terra Cotta can't accommodate all nudists, and all nudists can't afford to limit their nude recreation to Palm Springs vacations.