233. Meet the Nudies

Last weekend, T1 and E invited us over to meet her cousin’s family.  Her cousin was traveling through town on their way to visit other family and decided to stop in for day and overnight with E.   Like many of her family, they are practicing nudists, and yes, the gathering would be clothing optional for us.

We looked forward to meeting some of E’s family.    We thought it would be a good opportunity to see how J would respond in a more controlled “naked” environment before we think about immersing him in it at the resort.  This was also our first opportunity to introduce Kayla as our girlfriend to someone we were meeting for the first time.  This would be more than just a reveal of our bodies!

BTW – while E prefers the term naturist, I have been sticking to nudist lately, not out of disrespect to E, but because I keep saying naturalist instead of naturist.   It isn’t like E hates the term nudist – and she said some in her family use it freely – she just prefers to say naturist.

A little background on her cousins — They have a small farm.  As they put it, it is remote enough they can do all their “livin’ and farmin’ naked”, while still having the amenities offered by being close enough to a decent sized town.  They pretty much live 24×7 sans clothing.  The kids are a 17-year-old boy, and 15 and 10-year-old girls. 

PREPPING J
We talked to J in advance and explained things.  He was quite giddy about it and in his egocentric ways said with some excitement,  “You mean they can see my penis?”   Even though we made it clear everyone would be naked, he showed no interest nor commented about what he might see.  We still made it a point to remind him he knows that commenting on people’s appearance isn’t nice, and that this doesn’t change just because someone is naked.   His response was a, “No, duh, I already know that.”

He did ask why.  We explained it is how some people choose to be, and more specifically, how many people in E’s family choose to be.  We are showing our support by being naked as well.  He then asked if he needed to get naked now and was a bit disappointed when we said no.  Yep, we knew he would be okay with this.  

LOGISTICS
I had to call E to discuss the logistics of exactly how do we get naked?  Do we first introduce ourselves then excuse ourselves to disrobe?  Do we just start shedding our clothes at the door?  What’s the protocol?  

She assured us the protocol is that there is none.  We do what is comfortable.  If we see people when we walk in, sure, introduce ourselves first.  If we don’t see people, feel free to disrobe at the door – she has a dresser by the door to store clothes.

WE ARRIVE
We get there—  meet T2, E, and her cousin and the cousin’s husband in her front living room – they are naked.   J’s immediate response is, “can I take my clothes off now, can I, can I?”  Oblivious to the fact T2, E, and these strangers are naked – he just wants to get naked.  We introduce ourselves and chit-chat a bit as I helped J get undressed.  He was so excited and even said, “I can’t believe this.  This is like a dream and I like it.”  While we knew we would be okay with it, he was a bit over exuberant and we hoped he calmed down about it soon (he did).

E eventually says, “Why don’t you guys get comfortable and come and meet the kids.”  That was our cue to get naked.   We then walked into the family room and the two teenagers were sitting on the couch, playing a video game.  They immediately paused their game and stood up and introduced themselves.  Soon the 10-year-old came into the room and introduced herself.   Yes, everyone was naked. 

I was struck by how engaging they were.  Eye contact, conversant… interested in getting to know us and easily talked about themselves when asked questions.  I use to work in a middle school and a high school – getting kids to make eye contact or carry on meaningful discussion is not easy.  These kids were pros at it — they were comfortable and they made us comfortable.

When we introduced Kayla as our girlfriend, almost no one questioned it.  Perhaps it just sounded like “girl who is a friend” versus girlfriend, or perhaps they knew it may not be polite to ask for clarification or maybe T2 and E already told them.  But the younger girl asked Kayla “So you’re their…girlfriend?”   Kayla simply said, “Yes, I am.”   And that was it.  The girl was satisfied and moved on, perhaps oblivious to the full implications. 

As the visit progressed I was touched by how all three of the kids engaged with J – asking him about himself, what he liked to do, etc.  They weren’t fazed by his disability.  When J mentioned a game he liked to play, the older boy immediately turned off his game and put in the one J liked.  He and J then played it for a while, exchanging tips.  While it was clear the boy knew everything J told him, he would still respond with a “Wow, that’s cool” instead of a “yeah, everyone knows that,” which some kids may have said.   

The youngest girl was very outgoing and energetic.  She showed off her dancing skills as she pirouetted and spun with pride.  When J and the other boy were playing their video game, the older girl came and sat with us “adults” for a while, again, easily engaging in conversation.  

At one point the younger girl wanted to go exploring in the back yard and quickly bolted out the back door.  Her mom calmly said, “Remember what we talked about, you need to come back in and  put clothes on.”   The girl came back in and got dressed and even asked J if he wanted to join her in looking around.  

I thought that was so nice and was one of many examples where she did her best to include J in something she was doing.  While he declined that offer, he later played some board games with her.  I was so impressed with the kids.  And when the topic turned to the nudist lifestyle, I was again impressed by how they responded to our questions.  They have absolutely no reservations about their lifestyle.  

DISPELLING MY BIASES
It was such a beautiful afternoon and evening.  I don’t have any other word for it than beautiful.  Watching the family interact and how the kids interacted with each other and with the adults was so amazing.  I literally teared up as it was emotional to watch.  

It was EXTREMELY helpful to talk with E and her cousin about the lifestyle.  We all learned a lot.  Even though I consider myself a very open and accepting person, we all make assumptions about certain things.  And if something is very foreign to you, those assumptions tend to be very wrong.   There is the human nature to think, “Those people… oh, of course we ALL know those people are ALWAYS like…”  

Whatever the group, nudist or not, people are, well, people.  They come with all sorts of beliefs and preferences.  We got some insight into the various approaches different family members take regarding their nudism.  Simply put, nudist comes with a range of ideas as to what being naked means to them and how they go about it.   Duh!   I felt bad for even thinking otherwise.  I know this sounds like I am stating the obvious, but again, human nature is what it is and I needed to be reminded of this.   

MORE ON E’s COUSINS
In the words of E’s cousin, they are more “free range” regarding their nudity and that of their kids.  They don’t do anything to dissuade it other than in the clothing required public.  At home they can go days without putting on clothes.

Even if they or their kids have friends over.  They said this can sometimes be hard as there are friends whose parents won’t allow them to visit, but surprisingly they said it often isn’t an issue.  Sometimes visitors stay clothed, or, their child may choose to be clothed if their friend is, even though others in the family are naked.  There have been a few times, with the parents permission, their friend get naked too. 

If it is real important to their child to have a friend over and have everyone clothed, they simply can ask and the family is supportive.  The kids are very open about their family and while it isn’t the first thing they tell people, they don’t hide it either.  The kids all told us that all their friends know they are nudists. 

E’s cousins are the same regarding their friends or family that visit.  Visitors know to expect the family will be naked.  They’ve had some people choose not to visit, and others who not only do so, but partake in being nude.  They told us we would be surprised by the number of people they have introduced into the lifestyle over the years.   Not necessarily a full 24×7 adoption, but a lot of their friends have gone on trips with them to a nude beach or resort.  There is a high curiosity factor and even if they don’t make it a lifestyle, they have fun and enjoy it part-time or at least want to try it once.  

IN CONCLUSION
I was so impressed, as was Mike and Kayla.  And J had a great time.   The kids were the most amazing kids I ever met, although to impress a mom, it helps if you are nice to her child – and they were extremely nice to J.  J’s quirks can be annoying or unsettling, but these kids were immune to it.  They simply rejoiced in who he was.   Truly amazing. “Normal” kids just don’t do that.   I’ll take these “abnormal” kids any day!

J wanted to know if he could be naked at home.  We anticipated he might ask this but hadn’t fully decided.  We all like the idea of it, but aren’t sure we want to make it our lifestyle.   I am more for it than Mike, but Mike is the decider on this.  Sure Kayla and I are naked whenever J is at school, but that’s different.   At this point Mike has left it as a “no,” and explained to J that this was in support of E and her cousin’s preferences and that for now we will keep our clothes on at home.

Okay, enough nude talk.  Let’s talk DD and D/s and something kinky.  While the nude lifestyle is interesting to me, I don’t consider it kink.  Especially after experiencing it “in action” so to speak — it was very non sexual.  So much so that even calling it non-sexual is too sexual of term to use.   It was just beautiful.  It was…just human.  I wish I could come up with better words to explain it.

Next: 234. Calculate Your Domestic Discipline Readiness

227. Naturism Rant

I shared how my soon to be daughter-in-law was raised a naturist (aka nudist).   Since her revelation, we are now planning a joint vacation at a naturistt resort complete with her family, which we will be meeting for the first time.

Sorry to go on and on in this post.  I am just so fascinated by the things E shared.  So, indulge me, and maybe my next post will share something more salacious. 

E brought tons of pictures and shared many stories of her countless vacations growing up.   In addition to several trips a year to a resort, they lived close to a nudist beach that they would go to all of the time.  She also had relatives they would visit who lived in a clothing optional community.   

The pictures were amazing.  Seeing the total acceptance and comfort of everyone in their “birthday suits” was heartwarming.  All shapes, sizes, and ages.  It was beautiful.  I think it is difficult to imagine if you have never seen pictures like this or have never been to a clothing optional place.  It is easy to imagine that the first thoughts are likely of sex, debauchery, or perversion (or all three!).  It is none of those.  

The ease and comfort at which E would shared the photos was amazing.  Pictures of her naked with her siblings, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or friends – pictures that spanned pretty much her lifetime.  All just doing things that people do on vacation.  You can see the fun, joy, and merriment that you see in any family pictures.   The difference of course, is that everyone is naked.   It was beautiful to sense the lack of modesty and shame from every one, regardless their age.

WE WILL GO AS A FAMILY (likely)
There is a resort her and her family have gone to before that appears to have excellent handicap amenities, so we are likely going to take J with us.  We haven’t told him yet as we want to finalize our plans first, plus, we will wait until it is closer to actually going as he does not do well with any anticipation of any sorts.  As for the nudity, that isn’t even our concern.   We know he will handle it just fine.  In fact, he will be more comfortable and casual about it than perhaps my middle child, T2.   Although I haven’t talk to T2 about it, my oldest did talk to his brother about it.  As expected, T2 was not that enthusiastic.  He didn’t say no, but didn’t say yes – and it may not matter.  He graduates college in May and has a job lined up, so might not be able to go anyway.

SHALL WE ALL GET NAKED?
Oh, and in case you were wondering, E and I were both naked during her visit, and when Kayla got home she got naked as well.  Mike was at work.

E spends as much of her life as clothes free as possible, meaning she is naked most of the time she is at home.  She has immersed T1 into the lifestyle as well, and with little exception, she said he tends to be naked around the house as well.  Since Mike and I are fine with it, and obviously E and T1 are fine with it, we talked about whether we should all be naked when we get together.  Her and I agreed that as far as we were concerned, absolutely!  We would leave it up to the guys if they wanted to join in, or if Mike doesn’t want to allow it at all. I have since asked Mike, and he said he is open to it, and “we will see.”  That typically means “Yes!”

I asked E if she would want to disrobe if everyone else kept their clothes on.  I found her answer interesting.   She said for her it depends.  She has family members who aren’t into the lifestyle and it isn’t uncommon at some family get together to have a mix if clothed and nude bodies.  Some naturist family members are more “militant” than others and will shed their clothes whenever they can, regardless.  Others will tend to take their cues from the situation.  For instance, she will keep her clothes on if at the house of a family member who doesn’t partake.  However, if it is at her home, family members know to expect she will be naked.

She said whether we wear clothes or not, at her home, she wants to be naked even if no one else is.  As for our house, since we are accepting, she is comfortable being the only one naked if that is how it has to be.  I find this all so fascinating and just how comfortable and nonchalant E is about this.  I guess growing up the way she did, she probably feels us “textiles” are the oddity.  

E has immersed me in naturism etiquette and helped dispel myths I had.  Even though I see the beauty in it, I have concerns about the perverts out there, ogling women, especially young girls or boys.  She shared that it just isn’t like that.  There might be more of that at a public nude beach, but she has never sensed it or seen it at resorts.  She has heard of incidents though.  She said the facilities screen people and everyone can tell if someone’s behavior is a bit “off.”  They get reported and dealt with.

Of course, perverts come in all aspects of society.  They may be “of the cloth” literally and figuratively, or they may be nudists.  But neither infer perversion.  In all her experience, and that of her family (going back to her grandparents!) is that, of course it makes sense to be aware of weirdos, but it is no different if going to the mall or going to a nude beach or resort.

I don’t intend this to be all about E, but her upbringing is so intriguing to me.  She assures me the intriguing parts aren’t about nudism, but perhaps about the bohemian, even gypsy like lifestyle of many of her family members.  But briefly – both sets of her grandparents were nudists, and her parents met at a nude resort.  So she has aunts and uncles on both sides of her family that practice naturism.  There are some that opted out of the lifestyle, but most stayed in.  And despite the avant-garde environment of her family,  while there are a handful of artists in the bunch, most are college educated white collar professionals.  Surprising, but I know my surprise is simply because of my own biases.

EXHIBITIONISM?
I admitted to her that I have an exhibitionist streak in me, but, the feeling I get from exhibitionism is different from what I was feeling about this trip. However, I couldn’t articulate the difference I was feeling, only that the exhibitionist in me isn’t what is excited about going to a nude resort.   While I couldn’t come up with the words to explain what I was feeling, E put it into her own words. 

She thought of it this way – She said she doesn’t consider herself an exhibitionist at all, and doesn’t believe anyone in her family considers themselves one either (in fact, I think she was slightly offended by a perceived implication that they are related).  She went on to say that it isn’t about some extravagant way of presenting yourself.  It is about the most normal and human way of presenting yourself.  To her, exhibitionism is about “Look at me, look at what I am doing.”  Whereas naturalism is about telling people, “I see you, you see me, we are all connected as humans, so let us respect and treat each other with kindness.”

Yeah, she pretty much hit the nail on the head regarding what I was feeling re I wasn’t connecting it to my exhibitionism.  It is about the purity of it all that attracts me – the feeling of connection at a very basic core.  So simple, so pure.  And, in all the pictures she showed me, I don’t think there were any where people aren’t smiling!   It seems like a happy place to be.  Not because of the visuals, but because of the overall vibe.

She said for her it doesn’t even dawn on her that she is naked or those around her are naked.  No more than it dawns on a “textile” to notice someone’s elbow or arm that is showing.  It is processed by her brain as just “normal” and thus doesn’t even register as a “thing” to take notice of.  However, she did say that, just like someone with clothes who has a part of their body that is different than the norm, you do notice people who are naked that also have parts that are different from the norm.  But that doesn’t mean it is sexualized.  Noticing an exceptionally large penis doesn’t make it sexual, any more than noticing someone with larger than normal hands is sexual.  Of course, if you have a hand fetish… but I digress. 

EROTIC?
And frankly, the visuals, while beautiful, aren’t erotic.  I know it must be hard for some people to separate a naked body from erotic thoughts.  I didn’t see or feel anything erotic in any of the pictures she showed me or from being naked with her.  Once you have seen people of various shapes and sizes, from small to large you name its, from saggy to shriveled whatsits, crooked this, crooked that, cock-eyed nipples, cellulite, body rolls, etc., etc., you quickly see past the visuals.  You just see joy,  the humanity, see the person for who they are, not what they look like or are or aren’t wearing.   That’s the beauty of it. 

Ha, my first naturism rant!  And I haven’t been officially initiated yet!

YAWN, GIVE ME A SPANKING!
You know what?  It’s been awhile since I’ve talked D/s.  So, enough about naturism, enough about my research, or my youthful indiscretions. how about a spanking story?  I went 19 days without punishment until a transgression resulted in a pretty harsh spanking (are there other kinds?).   They have all been pretty harsh when they come.  But I am not complaining, giggle giggle!    I’ll share it on my next post. 

Next: 228. Addicted to Vulnerability (psst…and a spanking story)