I am reminded of the end of Terry Pratchett's Hogsfather, in which death and Susan discuss the nature of beliefs and Death states, though not in these exact words, "You learn to believe little lies so you can learn to believe far bigger ones. How else can you make them real?" The myth of the garden is great, but limited, I think, one could imagine many spaces that bolster community, connection, and nudism along side them. One has to but dream them, then truly believe they are possible.
Modern companies, and that includes, "community developers" are often more concerned with what they need to do to meet current expectations, or their own egos, if they are rich enough to just go big and build sonething they like, but no one else, other than other rich people, are impressed by. Yet... that is also the rub, who can afford to build dreams who is not a rich egomaniac today?
Zaftig, Thank you for this thoughtful article and wonderful trip down memory McLane. While you were looking at the 1970s, please note that two Yale students had been looking at nudism a decade before. One was studying Psychology the other Culture and Behavior and they went on to become a physician and a psychiatrist. Not only did they look at nudist history, they interviewed club owners, members, conducted surveys, and assessed how space was utilized. It is a wonderful observational study of how pools and their surroundings set the stage for mixing, mingling, conversation, and expanding one's contacts when, at the time, everyone was only on a first name basis. I have not seen such social and behavioral assessments from physical infrastructure in any other nudist literature. Check out the following for the specifics of their research.
Ilfield, F. & Lauer, R. (1964). Social Nudism in America. New Haven, CT: College and University Press.
Thank you. There were a few paragraphs in an earlier draft about how water futures were a way to naturally promote social connection, but it was getting a little too much into the weeds. I'll see if I can hunt down the Illfied & Lauer book.
I do not know where you are but there are copies at the Western Nudist Research Library on the grounds of Glen Eden Sun Club near L.A., and at the American Nudist Research Library on the grounds of Cypress Cove in FL. I think copies can still be found via AbeBooks or other on-line services.
I love this article. I agree with what you say here: "Usually this comes in the form of nudism as conveying individual health benefits, or as being a means of self-discovery or self-actualization. All of these are perfectly true. But they also all only focus on the self. And the self is only one component of social nudity." This is one of my criticisms of the usual marketing strategy also. Well written; thank you for your insights.
It just occurred to me that the friendliest and most welcoming naturist resort I know also has a strict no-phones-by-the-pool policy, even if the lenses are covered. Coincidence? Maybe not.
Well said , modern uk development is again a trend for open plan living but we are a more crowded nation so apartments and houses now tend to be close together with no open yards or contact with nature. The main trend I contact fascinating is panoramic windows on stairwells and all room including bedrooms, you can see right through the house or apartment while driving passed in a car or on a double deck UK bus you must be totally clothed at all times because you are in view of anybody who is passing bye
I almost skipped this read as I shuddered at the thought of a fiberglass garden. SO glad I didn’t!
I well remember those hamburger fields and the people I chatted with as our children were playing nearby, creating their own community.
I have a young friend who lives in Cologne, Germany who prepared a “tour guide document” for visiting friends. She explained that due to the heavy bombing during the war, there really wasn’t much left to see there, and thus, it’s never been the huge tourist Mecca that has swamped so many other European cities. She went on to explain that’s the reason people love living there. It’s simply a place to enjoy the simple qualities of life, including a day at the (nude) spa (Köln has several) or making your way from beer kiosk to beer kiosk either to hang out and chat with friends or maybe to make a new one.
What a lovely concept of quality of life.
Bowling Alone was a pinnacle work with foresight beyond what even Putnam could have imagined. Thank you for pulling those threads together in such a thoughtful piece.
Thank you for this article, Zaftig and Evan. As a loyal follower of each of your stacks, I began reading it almost from a sense of duty. I soon found myself engrossed and in full agreement. Honestly, it's my favorite nudism-related read in quite a while. You have me imagining myself seated with a towel separating my buns from a fiberglass hamburger bun.
Like so many others, I find my sense of belonging to a community dwindling, largely for the reasons discussed so thoughtfully here (and the pandemic sure didn't help). I live in an American city where few sit in once-crowded restaurants while a steady stream of gig workers from food delivery apps passes through, enabling my neighbors to eat at home in front of their TVs. I also spend months each year in a town in Italy, where (at least during the warm months), people walk everywhere and life centers around outdoor tables in piazzas. I find myself running into acquaintances or engaging with strangers there much more than I do in the U.S.
Love this idea of "many gardens". I have been feeling lately like the way forward for nudism in the US is to increase the amount of opportunities for social nudism in cities. We need to make it more likely that people will encounter nudist spaces and the people who frequent them in their everyday lives. Probably not going to happen if the only places we can go are remote campgrounds or a far off reserved section of beach...
Modern development is soulless in my personal opinion. Spot on article.
I am reminded of the end of Terry Pratchett's Hogsfather, in which death and Susan discuss the nature of beliefs and Death states, though not in these exact words, "You learn to believe little lies so you can learn to believe far bigger ones. How else can you make them real?" The myth of the garden is great, but limited, I think, one could imagine many spaces that bolster community, connection, and nudism along side them. One has to but dream them, then truly believe they are possible.
Modern companies, and that includes, "community developers" are often more concerned with what they need to do to meet current expectations, or their own egos, if they are rich enough to just go big and build sonething they like, but no one else, other than other rich people, are impressed by. Yet... that is also the rub, who can afford to build dreams who is not a rich egomaniac today?
Zaftig, Thank you for this thoughtful article and wonderful trip down memory McLane. While you were looking at the 1970s, please note that two Yale students had been looking at nudism a decade before. One was studying Psychology the other Culture and Behavior and they went on to become a physician and a psychiatrist. Not only did they look at nudist history, they interviewed club owners, members, conducted surveys, and assessed how space was utilized. It is a wonderful observational study of how pools and their surroundings set the stage for mixing, mingling, conversation, and expanding one's contacts when, at the time, everyone was only on a first name basis. I have not seen such social and behavioral assessments from physical infrastructure in any other nudist literature. Check out the following for the specifics of their research.
Ilfield, F. & Lauer, R. (1964). Social Nudism in America. New Haven, CT: College and University Press.
Thank you. There were a few paragraphs in an earlier draft about how water futures were a way to naturally promote social connection, but it was getting a little too much into the weeds. I'll see if I can hunt down the Illfied & Lauer book.
I do not know where you are but there are copies at the Western Nudist Research Library on the grounds of Glen Eden Sun Club near L.A., and at the American Nudist Research Library on the grounds of Cypress Cove in FL. I think copies can still be found via AbeBooks or other on-line services.
Thanks. If it helps, I don't know where I am either.
Libraries are wonderful places to find things from facts to fantastical places to mysteries to even where you might be. Stay well naturally.
So very true we need to redo our environment get rid of cell phones learn to talk with each other!
I love this article. I agree with what you say here: "Usually this comes in the form of nudism as conveying individual health benefits, or as being a means of self-discovery or self-actualization. All of these are perfectly true. But they also all only focus on the self. And the self is only one component of social nudity." This is one of my criticisms of the usual marketing strategy also. Well written; thank you for your insights.
It just occurred to me that the friendliest and most welcoming naturist resort I know also has a strict no-phones-by-the-pool policy, even if the lenses are covered. Coincidence? Maybe not.
Where, if I may ask?
Whispering Pines in Ocean Isle Beach, NC.
Thank you.
Well said , modern uk development is again a trend for open plan living but we are a more crowded nation so apartments and houses now tend to be close together with no open yards or contact with nature. The main trend I contact fascinating is panoramic windows on stairwells and all room including bedrooms, you can see right through the house or apartment while driving passed in a car or on a double deck UK bus you must be totally clothed at all times because you are in view of anybody who is passing bye
I almost skipped this read as I shuddered at the thought of a fiberglass garden. SO glad I didn’t!
I well remember those hamburger fields and the people I chatted with as our children were playing nearby, creating their own community.
I have a young friend who lives in Cologne, Germany who prepared a “tour guide document” for visiting friends. She explained that due to the heavy bombing during the war, there really wasn’t much left to see there, and thus, it’s never been the huge tourist Mecca that has swamped so many other European cities. She went on to explain that’s the reason people love living there. It’s simply a place to enjoy the simple qualities of life, including a day at the (nude) spa (Köln has several) or making your way from beer kiosk to beer kiosk either to hang out and chat with friends or maybe to make a new one.
What a lovely concept of quality of life.
Bowling Alone was a pinnacle work with foresight beyond what even Putnam could have imagined. Thank you for pulling those threads together in such a thoughtful piece.
Thank you for this article, Zaftig and Evan. As a loyal follower of each of your stacks, I began reading it almost from a sense of duty. I soon found myself engrossed and in full agreement. Honestly, it's my favorite nudism-related read in quite a while. You have me imagining myself seated with a towel separating my buns from a fiberglass hamburger bun.
Like so many others, I find my sense of belonging to a community dwindling, largely for the reasons discussed so thoughtfully here (and the pandemic sure didn't help). I live in an American city where few sit in once-crowded restaurants while a steady stream of gig workers from food delivery apps passes through, enabling my neighbors to eat at home in front of their TVs. I also spend months each year in a town in Italy, where (at least during the warm months), people walk everywhere and life centers around outdoor tables in piazzas. I find myself running into acquaintances or engaging with strangers there much more than I do in the U.S.
Love this idea of "many gardens". I have been feeling lately like the way forward for nudism in the US is to increase the amount of opportunities for social nudism in cities. We need to make it more likely that people will encounter nudist spaces and the people who frequent them in their everyday lives. Probably not going to happen if the only places we can go are remote campgrounds or a far off reserved section of beach...
Exactly. You have to be pretty well committed to an idea already in order to drive twenty miles down a back road to experience it.