It’s terribly sad that just being your natural self requires you to be brave on a daily basis, and I’m so sorry. Of course, your natural self has always been pretty bold as far as I’ve seen, Marie.
Not quite this year but with min the last 18 months I began modeling for life drawing classes and found great success at it. I’d been thinking about it for a while and finally put together a resume and applied to a local art council. That led to another opportunity at my university (I’m a grad student). It’s been an amazing change of pace from my typical research, it’s relaxing/meditative/challenging/creative, and I’ve really enjoyed picking up art concepts on the side.
I draw from life twice weekly. There are too few male models. (I have theories about this, but those don't add bodies to the model stand.) I am grateful to all the people who have been gracious enough to take off their clothes and show me their ideas of what the human animal is about, but kudos to the men. (One friend who schedules models says the female-male ratio is 12:1, but I'd say it's closer to 20:1.) Once again, thank you.
Wow! I would have thought the opposite. At the school I worked at it seemed they were always trying to get more female models. Yeah, it felt like the perfect gig for me. Some friends and I had won some live mannequin competitions in our hometown (clothed) and I thought I can hold a pose well and I enjoy being nude… let’s make art.
That's interesting. I never considered being a nude model and assumed art schools never had a problem getting models from among their student population. I would consider it if I knew how to connect with a local art school in need. Does anybody know how to find what schools may need models?
RJ , I’d recommend you read “The Art Model's Handbook: The Naked Truth About Posing For Art Classes and Fine Artists" by Andrew Cahner
It's written by a model with tons of good information.
For finding places that need models, I might suggest what I did. Create a resume of sorts (mine contained my daily yoga practice, my comfort with social nudity, and past experience holding a pose for live mannequin events). Then start small, maybe reaching out to a local arts council (check first to see if they offer life drawing courses with live models). Then after you get in there, they’re usually connected to local universities.
The only thing I have ever done I did for first time this year. I went to my first naturist beach. All the way there, I told myself I was wasting my time and that I wouldn't go through with it. Right up until I had pegged down my beach mat. Then suddenly, I was naked. It was like a spiritual moment and I suddenly felt I was me. I went back again on any sunny day off that I had. I mentioned it to two of my children, jokingly. They weren't impressed. Kids, eh?
Very cool! Congratulations! The unfortunate and often ironic reality about naturism is you really must experience it to understand it. There's no way to explain to others how it feels. They have to feel it.
A nudist I know said that she changed clothes in a car with her husband stopped at a red light. She was topless at one point, but the people in the other cars at the light were too engrossed in whatever was on their phone to notice.
The most I stepped out of my comfort zone was telling two co-workers (doing maintenance work out on a farm) that I preferred working nude and asking if they'd mind. They both said, "no problem," and so for the next three years (until we moved) every time I went to the farm to help with work needed I was able to be nude. This was for roofing, bridge work, log-siding repair, small construction projects, interior and exterior painting, etc. I've mentioned working nude to a few others since we moved, all with positive outcomes, though no more outdoor work.
Amazing! I bet a lot of people (myself included) would really like to be able to broach this subject with our colleagues in a way that wasn't viewed as weird or off-putting... that can be a little harder in an office environment! 😂
This year, I included pictures on my digital frame of me enjoying being nude in my back yard around the house along with all the other family, vacation, fun pictures loaded in there. I let people know ahead of time that ALL of these pictures are 'things that make me happy to see/remember'. If they see me naked, OK. If they don't, that's OK also.
The boldest choice I/we made this year was to take a bucket list road trip that included pulling off an interstate exit and stripping, then we drove until we reached the next rest area and then put everything thing back on. It was our first public naturist thing we had ever done. We laughed the whole time. The next day we went to our first naturist beach. My wife enjoyed it so much, we returned the next two days. I’m sure we’ll be back. When you’ve been married 40 years, a little change can be good.
I forgot to mention that those were the days that we had vehicles with bench front seats so my wife could lean back against my right shoulder and semi recline on the seat or lay her head on my lap. Nice to be skin to skin as a couple. Gave it up with the bucket seats.
We had had some hotel patio exposure too starting from early in our marriage. We were married about 20 years when we joined ASA, now AANR at Cypress Cove Resort in Florida. My wife loved it too.
Bold decision? Last week I traveled to NYC to help a niece through a difficult stretch. Her fiance had suffered a stroke and was kept in an induced coma.
At home, I am caring for my little brother dealing with dementia. He was also in a difficult place. Then there are my pets, including 2 elderly dogs, 3 cats & 2 horses.
Can I manage the trip without things falling apart at home?
Did it have to be me?!
I decided that I needed to pull it all together. I returned from NYC Saturday. Things at home survived and my niece is in a better place. Her fiance is awake and recovering. I believe that my help was worth the effort and considerable expense.
Nothing to do with naturism, that is another story.
The hands-done boldest choice I made this year was to decide to run for AANR President. It was not on my Nudist Bingo Card but my goals to educate about wholesome naturism and my vision on reimagining AANR into a forward-thinking, modern organization, came together. My fate was in the hands of the members and my overwhelming win convinced me that I had made the right decision.
My reason wasn't on your list: "Fear of doing harm." On October 29, I had my left knee replaced. It hurt (still uncomfortable on November 21—the hellish stuff done in a week), but I expected that. I've known half a dozen folks who've done this, and they all testified that life is better after a "full arthrotomy." My fear is that this is my marginally exceeding the common's carrying capacity. (See Garrett Hardin's "The Tragedy of the Commons." https://pages.mtu.edu/~asmayer/rural_sustain/governance/Hardin%201968.pdf) I hope I live long enough and do enough good to justify all the medical labor, capital, and supplies I've claimed.
Over the years when we were working we were cautious about nude exposure close to home, we've always been rather recognizable. Since retiring we've gotten to care less and this year entered the AANR-NW photo contest. We've been shooting each other since before digital and even modeled for Michael Cooney's photo classes in the past. Time to share, we even had a category winner. The real test will be trying to come up with a, "Nude but not Nude," category winner that could be used publicly. Makes us wish we could jump back 30-40 years.
I have had two people, not family members, both men, visiting with me for extended periods. Told both I am a nudist and did they have an issue. Neither did so I continued living nude.
As I young adult, I found I enjoyed nudity in my room while studying, etc. That evolved into nudity at home when I lived alone, but that became suppressed when I got married and while raising a family. My wife was fine with me sleeping naked for the last 40 years, but that was the extent of it.
I have always been fascinated by the notion of nudity outside the home and have been naked in public in my dreams all my life. As native of the SFO Peninsula, I had heard of Lupin (Los Gatos CA) Naturist Lodge over many years and considered it a "bucket list" item just to challenge myself. It all came to a head when the owner of Lupin announced her desire to sell the property and retire. I panicked and thought "I may never get the chance to experience the joy of visiting our local naturist environment". So, I took a warm Fall Friday afternoon off and just did it! Though my heart was pounding a bit as I disrobed at my car in the parking lot, it felt very natural and a great setting for me to hike the mountain among fellow naturists. It was a glorious experience and I have found naked hiking to be a source of personal "bliss" for me. I have returned to Lupin several times to hike the hills, relax by the pool and spa, and just feel the warmth of the sun and gentile breeze over my entire body. Such a simple pleasure that feels wholesome.
I am holding out hope that some of the locals will come up with a strategy to keep Lupin a naturist site and not disappear like so many others have around the world!?!
It is a Japanese bath house usually fed by a natural spring. I went to one while in Japan, after ensuring I adhered to the etiquette they had and I really enjoyed myself.
Having been a nudist person for a few years and have been to nude beaches in usa and in Europe also been to another nude resort but have been to cypress cove twice this year getting up on dance floor nude was a highlight
Agreed
Couldn’t have said it better myself! Thank you for saying what a lot of us are feeling!
It’s terribly sad that just being your natural self requires you to be brave on a daily basis, and I’m so sorry. Of course, your natural self has always been pretty bold as far as I’ve seen, Marie.
On the other hand, you have been an inspiration.
Having heard your story, I've become more confident; "If you can against all those odds, I can do it too!"
💞🤗
Not quite this year but with min the last 18 months I began modeling for life drawing classes and found great success at it. I’d been thinking about it for a while and finally put together a resume and applied to a local art council. That led to another opportunity at my university (I’m a grad student). It’s been an amazing change of pace from my typical research, it’s relaxing/meditative/challenging/creative, and I’ve really enjoyed picking up art concepts on the side.
I draw from life twice weekly. There are too few male models. (I have theories about this, but those don't add bodies to the model stand.) I am grateful to all the people who have been gracious enough to take off their clothes and show me their ideas of what the human animal is about, but kudos to the men. (One friend who schedules models says the female-male ratio is 12:1, but I'd say it's closer to 20:1.) Once again, thank you.
Wow! I would have thought the opposite. At the school I worked at it seemed they were always trying to get more female models. Yeah, it felt like the perfect gig for me. Some friends and I had won some live mannequin competitions in our hometown (clothed) and I thought I can hold a pose well and I enjoy being nude… let’s make art.
I've heard that about other parts of the country. I'm in Minneapolis. My guess is that women are more comfortable being seen nude; men are chickens.
I last did that when I was 21, 44 years ago. (I'm male). I had to quit because of back pain.
That's interesting. I never considered being a nude model and assumed art schools never had a problem getting models from among their student population. I would consider it if I knew how to connect with a local art school in need. Does anybody know how to find what schools may need models?
RJ , I’d recommend you read “The Art Model's Handbook: The Naked Truth About Posing For Art Classes and Fine Artists" by Andrew Cahner
It's written by a model with tons of good information.
For finding places that need models, I might suggest what I did. Create a resume of sorts (mine contained my daily yoga practice, my comfort with social nudity, and past experience holding a pose for live mannequin events). Then start small, maybe reaching out to a local arts council (check first to see if they offer life drawing courses with live models). Then after you get in there, they’re usually connected to local universities.
The only thing I have ever done I did for first time this year. I went to my first naturist beach. All the way there, I told myself I was wasting my time and that I wouldn't go through with it. Right up until I had pegged down my beach mat. Then suddenly, I was naked. It was like a spiritual moment and I suddenly felt I was me. I went back again on any sunny day off that I had. I mentioned it to two of my children, jokingly. They weren't impressed. Kids, eh?
Very cool! Congratulations! The unfortunate and often ironic reality about naturism is you really must experience it to understand it. There's no way to explain to others how it feels. They have to feel it.
A nudist I know said that she changed clothes in a car with her husband stopped at a red light. She was topless at one point, but the people in the other cars at the light were too engrossed in whatever was on their phone to notice.
The most I stepped out of my comfort zone was telling two co-workers (doing maintenance work out on a farm) that I preferred working nude and asking if they'd mind. They both said, "no problem," and so for the next three years (until we moved) every time I went to the farm to help with work needed I was able to be nude. This was for roofing, bridge work, log-siding repair, small construction projects, interior and exterior painting, etc. I've mentioned working nude to a few others since we moved, all with positive outcomes, though no more outdoor work.
Amazing! I bet a lot of people (myself included) would really like to be able to broach this subject with our colleagues in a way that wasn't viewed as weird or off-putting... that can be a little harder in an office environment! 😂
This year, I included pictures on my digital frame of me enjoying being nude in my back yard around the house along with all the other family, vacation, fun pictures loaded in there. I let people know ahead of time that ALL of these pictures are 'things that make me happy to see/remember'. If they see me naked, OK. If they don't, that's OK also.
To be nude more often especially on hot summer sunny weekends sitting on the deck nude as much as possible. Sometimes I would be nude all day.
Yes especially on those hot summer days. I mean what’s the point of having clothes in that keep your body heat in and risk heatstroke!
The boldest choice I/we made this year was to take a bucket list road trip that included pulling off an interstate exit and stripping, then we drove until we reached the next rest area and then put everything thing back on. It was our first public naturist thing we had ever done. We laughed the whole time. The next day we went to our first naturist beach. My wife enjoyed it so much, we returned the next two days. I’m sure we’ll be back. When you’ve been married 40 years, a little change can be good.
Congrats and well done!
We used to do that too on the interstates. Does make one be careful about speed limits!
I forgot to mention that those were the days that we had vehicles with bench front seats so my wife could lean back against my right shoulder and semi recline on the seat or lay her head on my lap. Nice to be skin to skin as a couple. Gave it up with the bucket seats.
We had had some hotel patio exposure too starting from early in our marriage. We were married about 20 years when we joined ASA, now AANR at Cypress Cove Resort in Florida. My wife loved it too.
Bold decision? Last week I traveled to NYC to help a niece through a difficult stretch. Her fiance had suffered a stroke and was kept in an induced coma.
At home, I am caring for my little brother dealing with dementia. He was also in a difficult place. Then there are my pets, including 2 elderly dogs, 3 cats & 2 horses.
Can I manage the trip without things falling apart at home?
Did it have to be me?!
I decided that I needed to pull it all together. I returned from NYC Saturday. Things at home survived and my niece is in a better place. Her fiance is awake and recovering. I believe that my help was worth the effort and considerable expense.
Nothing to do with naturism, that is another story.
~Safebare
Sounds like you come through for your family, which is an admirable, honorable trait
The hands-done boldest choice I made this year was to decide to run for AANR President. It was not on my Nudist Bingo Card but my goals to educate about wholesome naturism and my vision on reimagining AANR into a forward-thinking, modern organization, came together. My fate was in the hands of the members and my overwhelming win convinced me that I had made the right decision.
congrats was glad to vote for you
Thank you for your support Tim!
My reason wasn't on your list: "Fear of doing harm." On October 29, I had my left knee replaced. It hurt (still uncomfortable on November 21—the hellish stuff done in a week), but I expected that. I've known half a dozen folks who've done this, and they all testified that life is better after a "full arthrotomy." My fear is that this is my marginally exceeding the common's carrying capacity. (See Garrett Hardin's "The Tragedy of the Commons." https://pages.mtu.edu/~asmayer/rural_sustain/governance/Hardin%201968.pdf) I hope I live long enough and do enough good to justify all the medical labor, capital, and supplies I've claimed.
Over the years when we were working we were cautious about nude exposure close to home, we've always been rather recognizable. Since retiring we've gotten to care less and this year entered the AANR-NW photo contest. We've been shooting each other since before digital and even modeled for Michael Cooney's photo classes in the past. Time to share, we even had a category winner. The real test will be trying to come up with a, "Nude but not Nude," category winner that could be used publicly. Makes us wish we could jump back 30-40 years.
I have had two people, not family members, both men, visiting with me for extended periods. Told both I am a nudist and did they have an issue. Neither did so I continued living nude.
As I young adult, I found I enjoyed nudity in my room while studying, etc. That evolved into nudity at home when I lived alone, but that became suppressed when I got married and while raising a family. My wife was fine with me sleeping naked for the last 40 years, but that was the extent of it.
I have always been fascinated by the notion of nudity outside the home and have been naked in public in my dreams all my life. As native of the SFO Peninsula, I had heard of Lupin (Los Gatos CA) Naturist Lodge over many years and considered it a "bucket list" item just to challenge myself. It all came to a head when the owner of Lupin announced her desire to sell the property and retire. I panicked and thought "I may never get the chance to experience the joy of visiting our local naturist environment". So, I took a warm Fall Friday afternoon off and just did it! Though my heart was pounding a bit as I disrobed at my car in the parking lot, it felt very natural and a great setting for me to hike the mountain among fellow naturists. It was a glorious experience and I have found naked hiking to be a source of personal "bliss" for me. I have returned to Lupin several times to hike the hills, relax by the pool and spa, and just feel the warmth of the sun and gentile breeze over my entire body. Such a simple pleasure that feels wholesome.
I am holding out hope that some of the locals will come up with a strategy to keep Lupin a naturist site and not disappear like so many others have around the world!?!
Going to an Onsen. Why was I worried? It was a GREAT experience
A what ?!?
It is a Japanese bath house usually fed by a natural spring. I went to one while in Japan, after ensuring I adhered to the etiquette they had and I really enjoyed myself.
Having been a nudist person for a few years and have been to nude beaches in usa and in Europe also been to another nude resort but have been to cypress cove twice this year getting up on dance floor nude was a highlight