My first nudist experience came by accident when I was 32 years old. Prior to that, I were raised in an extremely small family where my mom prohibit my father to get Playboy Magazines in the house (I found out years after he did anyhow.) It felt comfortable, but I never dreamed I 'd ever try it in front of others. However, skinny-dipping was on my mental "Bucket List" to try sometime in my entire life when - or if - I ever could summon the courage.
That opportunity came when I was married with a six year old daughter. My wife, like my mom, was incredibly self-conscious about her body. What nudity there was in our home was restricted to streaking from the restroom to the bedroom after a shower.
On this particular Sunday, we walked north from Paradise Cove, looking for the tide pool place a certain guidebook said was there. After a while we rounded a special corner to find a long shore perhaps a half-mile long, that was covered with naked bodies. We need to go - now!" At that instant, my daughter squealed with delight and took off running down the beach and into the crowd. She'd completely forgotten about any tide pools.
My wife rolled her eyes, and we walked with purpose toward where she had shed her bathing suit and was now running even faster down the beach. "I always wanted to attempt this," I conceded to my wife. "Dont you dare!" she quietly but firmly answered.
Nonetheless, I happened to mention our random discovery to a coworker a couple of days later. He nonchalantly admitted he and his wife went there all the time. I was more than surprised to discover this. Nudists lived among us! Who knew?
A year passed, and the next summer my wife and daughter left to see her sister in Washington State. I stayed behind for another week to complete an important project at work. A few days after, exactly the same coworker came into my office and closed the door.
"What?"
Nows your time to go without your wife finding out."
"No, I couldnt do that. I'd feel like I was cheating or something."
Come on down Saturday with Gail and me."
Well, I was nervous enough about the idea but going with people from work was entirely out of the inquiry. "Fine, but I need to go by myself the very first time." I think I said it as much to stop the dialog and get him out of the office as to be serious about what I was saying. But as the days passed, I started thinking that maybe this might be my only opportunity to try it, and I began making plans.
Only I got there early and there was barely anyone else there. I walked about halfway down, spread my blanket, and sat there, alone, not wanting to be the only one on the beach who wasnt wearing my swim suit. It took a couple of hours, but by the time the sun was overhead many others began to arrive. Some were families, some were couples, and some were obvious groups of friends who'd done this many times before. They all dropped their suits like they had done it a thousand times before (they likely had) with not a touch of self-consciousness or shyness. They unpacked umbrellas and sand seats and Frisbees and footballs, same as on any seashore. Just these people had no tan lines.
I reach my first moment of truth once I knew it was time to either join in or leave. So I pulled off my suit and immediately rolled onto my belly, thinking, "Oh wow, I really did it! I really did it!"
About a half hour later arrived the second moment of truth. Then I understood I was burning in places that had not been subjected to sunlight before, and I was going to have to turn over. But I had a better idea: I 'd head for the cool ocean water and conceal my privates there.
So I summoned all the courage I had, and stood up. I was particular everyones head would turn and I 'd be exposed for everyone to judge. I tried not to think about it as I took step after step toward the water. After several seconds I realized they werent looking at me. Im having a nervous breakdown here and the least they could do is look and recognize it!" After, I found that many others also go through these twin "moment of horror" their first time, only to look back and laugh at their conceit after.
By now there were several hundred people in the water, splashing, diving, body surfing, doing what people everywhere do in the water. Only without clothing.
I didnt expect to adore the feeling so much. I believed this whole thing would be a few minutes checking off an item on my Bucket List, and then I'd go home and live the remainder of my life.
Nope, someday would have to return. This was an astonishing, sudden experience, and I remained all day. I felt no sexual tension, in fact I saw no sexuality whatsoever. I found out later that the beach had it unofficial mayor and a team to volunteers who made sure nothing improper would occur there. So I discovered it really a very relaxing day. I even played a little beach volleyball. Modesty and shame would have been inappropriate in this setting.
On Monday morning, first-thing, my coworker came into my office and asked, simply, "Well?" I told him I actually appreciated the encounter and I thanked him for talking me into going. No, I wasnt going to go back some other day with him and Gail, but maybe someday. Then something happened I didnt anticipate.
A few hours later, another co worker came into my office and closed the door. "My partner and I saw you Saturday," he said gently with a big grin on his face.
Oh, no! I couldnt sink far enough into my seat! He then explained he along with his family go to that shore regularly and they were going to say hello but felt I might upset me (damn right it would have!).
"Is this some huge conspiracy?" I inquired. "Do a great deal of the people I know go down to this kind of shore?"
"More than youll ever know," he answered. "We just never talk about it."
There's a postscript to this story. A few days after I boarded a plane and joined my wife, daughter, and her sisters family in Washington. We had a lovely holiday except for one thing I had forgotten about.
One night in getting undressed for bed, my wife asked, "What is that?"
"What?" I replied.
"It seems like your back is skinning. In fact your bottom is peeling!" There was a nervous pause while her head put together the puzzle. "Dont tell me you went to that shore, did you?"
I sheepishly nodded. "I knew youd never go there and I needed to attempt it."
"Oh my God! I dont believe it..etc. etc." She reminded me of it frequently during the next few years, especially when we had guests over for dinner so she could make an example of her "mad" husband.
Unfortunately for her, some of our guests confessed they went to that shore (or others like it) also!
Societal nudity, as it turns out, is enormously popular, but nobody ever wants to talk about it.
My wife (now my ex) thinks the world is nuts.)