Keep Calm and Stay Naked

It’s that time of year again when naturists/nudists go into a bit of hibernation of sorts. I have blogged previously about my experiences and tips for surviving as a naturist through the long Canadian winter (Check them out  here and here if you like) and have not yet thought of anything of value to add on the subject.

With nothing of value to add to the surviving the winter naked conversation, I decide to start a different post than my usual “naturist experience” based ones, with the topic of current state of naturism as I saw it and the underlying politics and problems holding us back. But ultimately if got a little depressing and I could not remember what I thought would be the benefit of my rambling complaints.

Rather than focus on the ridiculous state of affairs at the International NaturistFederation or the sad (but totally understandable) announcement from YoungNaturists/Nudists of America that they are winding down all YNA operations, and don’t get me started on the many so called Twitter naturists who are really just porno addicted, dick pic sending perverts. This paragraph alone should show you how sad that post would have been

Instead I wanted to talk about the positive things going on and in the world of Naturism. There is plenty going on that give me hope that being a naturist is getting better and easier than even a few years ago. 

Out of the Shadows

Many clubs are finally moving away from the secretive and isolationist tendencies that seemed to work 20 years ago but more recently has seen many of them, at least in my area, close or switch to being textile only. And for a change, in this area the marketing power of Social Media is actually playing a positive role, even with the 1950’s mentality on censorship used by Facebook, Twitter and the like.  Clubs turn to Social Media to promote more and more to promote their resorts and get the word out that casual, nonsexual, family friendly nudity is possible.  They are also organizing specific events that often gets local media attention which is a huge win for both the club, and naturism as a whole. Bare Oaks is especially good at this with both their Comedy shows  and The Naked State art expo, initially promoted mainly on their own website and social media pages, but ended up being covered by multiple media outlets.

Speaking of Traditional Media…

... getting the media on the side of Naturism is no easy task especially in North America where prudes with no idea what Naturism is about, seem to be pulling the strings.  In my local area (Toronto Canada) the media actually had a positive impact recently on what could have been a fully terrible situation.  Spring flooding left most of Toronto Island, including Hanlan’s Point Clothing Optional beach, inaccessible for most or the prime summer season. And rather than stating in some small footnote that one of only two official clothing optional beaches was closed for the summer, many outlets (The Toronto Star and Now Magazine for example) provided alternatives.  Bare Oaks, Ponderosa, GTA SkinnyDippers, Toronto Area Naturist Sports and Swims (TANS) all getting multiple mentions.  You would have to ask the clubs mentioned what impact this had on their attendance numbers but free advertisement like this can’t be a bad thing.

Unlike North America, in Europe a quick google search will show you how much different is really is there for Naturists.  It’s far more common to see an article on Naturism or the benefits of going naked in Europe than in America but based on what I am seeing in my area as shown above, at least its getting better.

We are not alone!

I am not one to follow the tabloids, and I really don’t care what Robert Downey Jr. had for lunch, or the new skirt Mila Kunis was seen wearing in Beverly Hills. But every once in a while you hear about some famous person admitting they are a naturist, even if some may just go naked at home, it grabs my attention. Not because of who they are, but for what it can do for naturism. The more people of influence that speak openly about naturism and natural nudity the better. It can have the opposite effect, i.e. Super Bowl Nip slips help nobody, but for the most part it helps normalize nudity for the masses and for those of us in the know, helps us feel a little less alone. Ones I can confirm are:

Heidi Klum      Kate Humble

Miley Cyrus     Helen Mirren

JustinTimberlake,      Billy Connelly, 

Kevin Bacon     Robbie Williams

Brad Pitt

And thats just the ones I found easy links to, Adam Levine, Alicia Silverstone, Eva Mendes, Orlando Bloom, Bruce Willis, Alanis Morrissette, Halley Berry, Miranda Kerr, Kira Knightly all are also reportedly naturists/nudists at some level. And yes some of the reactions they got for it were negative, but we have to keep moving forward.

Merchandising

And since most of this post is about positive things in naturism, I thought I would add an area for improvement. Who doesn’t like “Swag” am I right? My two local clubs, Bare Oaks and Ponderosa, both have merchandise to buy at their club stores.
   

On my first visit I got a Ponderosa “Beer cozie” as a souvenir and I use it at home often.  From Bare Oaks I got one of those pens when you tip it the little persons clothes come off.  I plan on using it to write Christmas letters this year, make writing them feel less tedious.  Imagine if those pens, and beer cozies were not just available at the club store, but online.  Facebook is making it easier to sell your merchandise these days, and there are plenty of alternatives like Etsy and eBay. Combine that with promoting the merchandise on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.  Selling club branded T-shirts (the irony, I know!) and so on could be incredibly valuable for promoting your club and increasing revenue.  Perhaps they have already tried this previously but I think the possibilities are incredible. T-shirts promoting naturism is a bit of an oxymoron as it were and to be honest I’m not likely to walk around in a basic club branded shirt, but a “I’d rather be naked”  with the club logo, or even better, “Keep Calm and Stay Naked” with the club logo replacing the crown, that would draw attention for sure......hmmmm, maybe I should start my own naturist clothing/merchandise line????

Well that is all I had for now, feel free to share your thoughts, positive/constructive feedback is always welcome.  Otherwise I hope you all survive the winter and can stay naked as much as possible.  Maybe I will even see some of you at a GTA SkinnyDippers outing.

The Summer of Nude / Naked With Friends Part 2

It’s been a busy summer, aside from the usual work, textile friends and family obligations, I was also very busy enjoying my naked self. I got a late start to my naked summer but I eventually accomplished more as a naturist this summer than I did in the two years since I truly found naturism and managed to knock a few items off my naked bucket list.  Naturist camping (2 nights at Bare Oaks!), nude bowling (see my previous blog on that here), I missed out on the Nude 5k but maybe next year.  Most importantly, Tara finally joined me at Ponderosa for a day which was amazing. In doing so I noticed some differences in visiting alone versus with a friend so please keep reading as I cover that further below.

My summer started with a couple solo trips to Port Burwell, which if you are looking to be a true Naturist in Nature, the nude beach in Port Burwell just beyond the park boundary is really hard to beat.  I have been many times this summer and I never regret it.  It is definitely off the beaten track as it were but that’s what makes it so great.  No crowds, no textiles or gawkers.  Just nature and naturists being natural.  AKA - Bliss. My good friend Tara also really likes it at Port Burwell.  Tara sees herself as being more of a home naturist/nudist, but has accompanied me to Port Burwell a few times now. At first just to be supportive of my journey, but she also has learned to love the idea of being naked in nature.  She still has some reservations each time we go as she experiences a sort of feeling of being “exposed” as she puts it.  This is not that much of an issue at Port Burwell as there is not often a large crowd there even on the weekend, and there are plenty of places you can find additional privacy if you want there. 

It was no small step for Tara to finally join me on a recent visit to Ponderosa.  Both of us live only about 20 to 30 minutes from resort so concern number one for her was the “what if?” I never really put too much thought to the possibility of running into someone I know at a naturist beach or resort.  But what if it were to happen? Just the thought of it for Tara was borderline terrifying and it took some long conversations to ease that fear. I remember worrying about this myself in my early days of naturism, it has yet to happen though and honestly I don’t think I would be bothered by it at this point. It might be a bit awkward at first but seeing as you would both be there for the same reason, what is there to worry about. In fact I almost want it to happen, the more friends to share naturism with the better really. Knowing this was still a concern for Tara I let her decide the timing of the visit.  She chose a Saturday where she hoped she could be lost in the crowd, and was it ever crowded.  The parking lot was full, and even though Ponderosa has a generous amount of lounge chairs by the pool, every single one was taken however this was not a problem as we were happy to spend most of our time in the pool or at the swim up bar.  And we certainly got lost in the crowd, it was so busy but Tara did wear a large sun hat and a pair of big dark Hollywood style sun glasses, just in case.  With time and a few cocktails, she was as relaxed as she would have been at any other textile resort, even chatting with other couples. A great time for both of us.

Back in May I started dating a woman whom I met through my cousin.  We have since split, and no I am not going into those details, but I wanted to share some of our experiences in Naturism while we were briefly together as well.  My ex is an avid camper and for our first overnight trip away together this is what she wanted to do. I booked us a couple nights at none other than Port Burwell Provincial Park, not that I was planning anything, I just know the park and the area.  At this point I had not mentioned naturism to her at all but I was encouraged while at the parks textile beach when she asked if I would mind if she sun bathed topless (which is fully legal in Ontario where we live).  Of course I didn’t mind and after a very brief hesitation I mentioned the nude beach a short walk away “if she really wanted to avoid the tan lines”.

I played it like I was trying to be funny and yet not only was she open to the idea, she was rather excited about it. With that I could now claim to introducing two new naturists to the lifestyle.  My ex took to it like a fish to water and soon after our trip to Port Burwell we were spending our rare days off together at Ponderosa. We were even due to camp at Bare Oaks together but sadly at the end of last month we decided to go our separate ways before that happened. We are still friends and while I doubt we will be going together again to a naturist beach or resort, at least not intentionally, just the other day she told me that while we didn’t work out, she would always be grateful that I had taken her to the Port Burwell nude beach that day.

It is here I want to take this in a bit of a different direction. When I write this blog I try to focus on the “experience” side of Naturism  and not to get too much into what I will call the activist or political side of things.  How others enjoy or promote Naturism, or compare nudist versus naturist, or if there is a difference at all, is something I try to avoid except when it directly impacted my personal experience (i.e. Gawkers at Hanlan’s Point).  This may blur those lines a little but I wanted to share some subtle differences, others less so, in the experiences I have had as a single male compared to visiting the same places with a partner, in one case with Tara, a platonic friend who is a bit shy and self-conscious about her appearance, the other a romantic friend (the Ex) who is very confident in her appearance. 

When visiting solo to Port Burwell, Ponderosa, or Bare Oaks, I tend to keep to myself, go for a swim, sleep or read in the sun etc. At both resorts I have always found the staff went above and beyond to make you feel comfortable and welcome and I even hung out with some staff at Bare Oaks after their shift was over, good times.  However I often found when I went solo the other guests tend to keep you at arm’s length. Not that they were unfriendly, they smile and say hello or good morning but that’s about it.  I can understand some women or families might have reservations about the single guy they know nothing about, it’s a sad reality of the world we live in though I do hope that Naturism is one of the vehicles of change in that area.  However on a few rare occasions I thought some people were watching me a little too closely considering I was as naked as they were, and not bothering anyone. I would either burry my face further in my book or go for a swim to avoid that feeling.  Maybe they have had issues and are justified in having their guards way up, but if you want to grow the naturist movement, and further normalize nudity as natural, you have to find balance for everyone. Or maybe it was nothing and I read too much into the whole thing.

When visiting with Tara the social experience was very different. Families and couples alike would chat and engage as you would expect at any public park.  People, both male and female, seemed to like talking about their first naturist experiences with Tara and encourage her to keep at it.  Not something I had ever really experienced nor did I ever feel we were under any of the guarded observation I felt when alone.

The difference when visiting with my Ex was even more obvious. It didn’t hurt that she really enjoyed how natural it felt to be nude around others, she is very fit so she would draw some additional attention, from both men and women, at any beach or resort be it naturist or textile and she didn’t mind admitting she loved it. She is very outgoing and social and she would not wait for others to engage in conversation, she would start them. When we arrived at Ponderosa we sat alone at one end of the “conversation pool” but soon after it was like that was where the party was. 

Visiting with both Tara and my Ex, I found it easier to be social than when I was alone and a lot more fun if I am honest. I am not sure how a single woman would feel or be treated in a similar set of circumstances. Perhaps it would be different for another single man as well, so I do not judge, blame or criticize anyone here. It was just impossible to not notice the difference between the solo experience and the couple experience.

I think I have gone on long enough for today.  As always I am open to positive discussion and feedback, even if its constructive feedback.

Stay Naked people!

Will O’Canada @NudeInCanada on Twitter
Naturist Canada Map 

Two years Naked and Unafraid.

Two Years ago I started my journey into the world of Naturism and it’s amazing how far I have come.  What was once a taboo world to me is now my day to day lifestyle to the point I am even introducing it to some of my closer friends.  I’ll go more into that and some updates on what has become a very nude summer in my next blog. For now however, August is my "nudiversary" month, marking two years since my first trip to a public place that nudity is permitted. To mark the occasion and the recent re-opening of Hanlans Point beach after a summer of flooding, I wanted to re-post a combination of my first three blogs that detailed that first trip to the clothing optional beach that feels like way more than two short years ago.  My whole world has change in those two years and Naturism/Nudism has been a driving force of good behind those changes.

Hope you enjoy, and stay naked!

Newbie Nudist = Newdist? (First Published Aug 25, 2015)

I'm in what I think/hope is not an uncommon situation.  I discovered some time ago I like being nude, shocking I know.  Now I did the whole skinny dipping thing a few times in high school and college, but in my 20's I felt I was too mature for kid stuff like that anymore, either that or the opportunities simply stopped presenting themselves. Add in a romantic hotel stay here in there and you have my full nudist experience to this point.  But as an adult in his 30's I began to do some travelling for work.  When you are alone in a new city on a week night, you don't have many options but to hang out in your hotel room, watch t.v., surf the net, read a book etc.  You also learn to pack light and sleeping alone in a hotel room, pyjamas are an easy item to ditch to save space which is what led to shocking discovery, I actually really enjoyed walking around those hotel rooms in the buff, it felt natural and liberating.

It didn't take long for me to wonder why I didn't do this at home, keep the blinds shut, and be free in the comfort of my own home.  And for some time, that was it, I was happy in my own private nudist world.  A few years have passed and I never even had a thought of going beyond this, however that changed not long after I recently took a new job right in downtown Toronto.  Due to the proximity of my office to the Toronto Island ferry port, the annual

departmental picnic is always held at the parks on the island.  Anyone from Toronto knows where this is leading.  It was not long into the ferry ride over someone started to make the jokes.  Toronto Island is home to plenty of public parks, several beaches, a children's theme park, even a regional Airport.....and one of only two officially sanctioned clothing optional beaches in Canada.  I have known of its existence for several years but never gave it much thought until now.  On the day of the picnic, we were nowhere near the clothing optional beach, with this being a work event that was likely for the best, but that didn't stop the all too predictable jokes and comments.  And now there was this idea in my head, should I? Could I? Why would I?  But then something in the local news gave me the push I needed.

Three young women in small town not too far from Toronto were stopped by police for riding their bikes in public topless, however since the mid 1990's it is very much legal in Ontario for women to be topless anywhere a man is permitted.  For many reasons I won’t dare dive into, it still remains uncommon for women to take advantage of their right to go topless.  Many people likely didn't even realise it was perfectly legal (including the police officer that stopped them) so it became a fairly large local news story for some time and even led to a topless march in several cities.  It was these three brave women who made me realise what a chicken I was being.  They stuck their nose up at outdated conservative cultural pressures which should not be difficult in this day and age but in reality remains so even with law on their side.  But me, a mid-30's man, who just happens to enjoy walking around his home with the blinds closed and no clothes on, was unable to take the same brave step, that I very much knew I wanted to take but was too timid to do.

So I decided, the very next chance I got, I was going to walk onto that beach and let the sun see my birthday suit.  Nothing was going to get in my way.......well except I wanted to do some research first, and there was the weather to factor in, and most importantly I wanted to pick a day it was not too busy as I was sure a large crowd would impact my courage.....but other than that, nothing was going to stop me.  Sadly it was the first hurdle that proved to be the most difficult for me which is what led me to start this blog.  While there are no shortage of nudist (or naturists as I learned they call themselves, errr ourselves????) sites out there, most deal with the do's and do nots and even the where, but I couldn't find many first hand experiences to help reassure me along my journey.  Oh and you can imagine the sites Google fired back at me when I typed in "nudist blog" and the like.  So here I am, never having written a blog before, or anything other than an email frankly, sharing my experiences as I delve into the "taboo" world of nudism.  I don't expect many, if any, people to read this, but worst case it gives me an outlet to express what I've experienced, this is not exactly the kind of topic you bring up at dinner parties or when watching the game with friends.  Best case someone finds a little support along the way that I was unable to find myself.

Tearing off the band aid (First published Aug 30, 2015)

So here I am, a stay at home nudist as it were, finally ready to take advantage of the all to easily accessible clothing optional beach a short trip from my place of work. The first step is never the easiest.  Being fully inexperienced in this area I turned to the internet.  Google let me down on this one, while there are plenty of sites out there with info, hell I even looked up Toronto Island's Hanlan's Point beach on Trip Advisor. Other than plan to be surrounded by more men than women, more gay than straight, and being a clothing optional beach, plan for fewer people to take that option than do, I didn't have any idea how this experience was going to feel or impact me. I was looking for the experience side and I never did find it really.

Eventually the cards were played for me. The boss tells our whole team we get a half day off work on Friday, which is so rare for me, as a reward for performance results.  It also happened to be a perfect day according to the forecast, very warm but not hot, lots of sun, zero chance of rain. So while the department made plans with family, reservations at the local pub, I prepared some sun screen.  All my failed research was behind me now, I had decided to just go for it and packed a bag.

The morning was a giant blur, most people were going on about their plans for the early weekend, I told some lie about visiting my sisters family for a picnic, mid-day came before I knew it, so off I went.  I had a change of clothes with me, used a local coffee shop restroom to change into a pair of shorts and a tank top, otherwise I am walking on to a clothing optional beach in a suit and tie, how silly would that be.

Before I know it, I am at the Island ferry terminal, waiting to the next trip to Hanlan's Point, a stark variance in demographics from those waiting at the Centre Island ferry where the children's village is. It’s not a long ride over to the island, maybe 10 or 15 minutes max, then you have about a 15 minute walk along the path to the well-marked "Clothing Optional"

beach which is a tad awkward when there is a group of people all walking to the same destination which is still a bit "taboo" in my mind.  Based on the expressions on others faces, I was obviously the only one with "taboo" on the mind.  Soon enough I arrived at the beach access and I paused.....oh look, public restrooms and I suddenly have to pee. That was the last delay though, I now finally had feet in sand and as predicted, I was sufficiently surrounded on a not too crowded beach by almost the exact demographics as predicted above.  There was a fair amount of women too, not that I stared, either topless or also going the Full Monty.  Throw in a an equal number or clothed people who chose the clothing optional  beach and not the clothing mandatory one about 100 yards north for some reason, so really no surprises.

I picked my spot, an equal distance from anyone in any direction, still in my shorts and tank top.  How does one undress in public?  I had no idea, top first, bottoms first, standing up or discretely sitting down on my towel?  Am I putting too much thought into this?  Likely. Having no point of reference I decided to go the bold route, stood up, quickly dropped my shorts, shed my top and allowed the sun for the first time in many years to hit the full glory of my far less than perfect body.  That last moment I thought was going to be the hardest was a lot easier than ripping off a band aid, I felt really good about it actually, a huge sense of accomplishment. But it didn't take long for reality to set in, I was standing on a public clothing optional beach, having taken the option, and was standing there looking out on the water, and not doing much else........

Not wanting to stand out or look weird, I quickly grabbed the sun screen, gave myself a healthy coat, especially in the areas that I can no longer refer to as those “where the sun don't shine”, and started to lay down on my towel, but wait, do I lay down on my stomach or back first? Overthinking again no doubt, but I don't want to look like a newbie………… too late.

You always remember your first (First published Sept 9, 2015)

Once you are laying out in your birthday suit on a public beach, you end up doing a lot of thinking.  Some thoughts not too surprising, is the naked woman staring at me, does she think I am staring at her? Why are there so many clothed people on a clothing optional beach when the clothing mandatory one is not far away? Should I care?  And now what do I do?  I had been over thinking everything all day so I decided to grab my book and try and be as if it were any other day on the beach, just with a slight increase in exposed skin.

I was actually feeling very proud of myself. I've always considered myself rather liberal and open for anything, this fit that bill 100% for me.  I was very quickly comfortable and being naked was no longer a concern, perhaps still a novelty though.  It’s hard to describe the feeling of being naked in public and truly enjoying it.  I went for a short dip in the lake, which was really cold, walked along the shore for a small distance.  I didn't really notice the people around me any more than I would any other day, nor did they seem to pay any notice to me.  It felt like any other day at the beach and I was loving it.

Being a Friday afternoon it started to become a bit more crowded as the afternoon progressed. The demographics did not change much, though the clothed people who must really like being surrounded by naked people seemed to be increasing faster than those who went in the buff.  I was trying not to let this distract me too much but it was hard not to think about it.  Maybe they are working themselves up to taking their swim suits off, which some eventually did, maybe they can't afford to go to a strip club and really like to see naked people in the flesh as it were.  I almost packed up and left early but I was determined that I was there to be naked and free, not worry about those who were not.  Thankfully I was able immerse myself in my book and ignore those around me, clothed or not.  My time at Hanlan's Point was overall an amazing first time at a clothing optional beach but sadly I was forced to keep it short, I had plans with friends that night and only had time for a little over an hour on the actual beach.  I was determined to be nude as long as possible though so I picked up my things, walked as far as I could along the beach until I got to the "Clothing is Mandatory beyond this point" sign and that was it, I was once again clothed and on my way home.

I didn't go far before I started to plan my next visit though, I was on the boat back to the mainland already checking the forecast and trying to figure out what day next week I could use a spare vacation day.  I was determined to try this again but I still wanted to stick with weekdays where there would be fewer crowds.  The whole time I was smiling though.  It’s hard to explain the feeling of accomplishment, that you did this thing so many people may judge you for even considering.  You very quickly realise that you feel proud, not ashamed, you feel free, not exposed.  Although I felt awkward at first, that changed to comfort very quickly, and I could not wait to have that feeling again

_____________________________________

Hope you enjoyed this flashback post. Feel free to provide feedback or comments here or on twitter (https://twitter.com/NudeInCanada) and if you are in Canada and looking for a place to be naked, check out the Naturist Canada map I created and continue to update based on your feedback and suggestions

The Novelty of Nudity

The first time I felt the sun on my naked skin at Toronto Islands Hanlan’s Point, the buildup of excitement as I approached the beach, I remember the rush of adrenaline as I got undressed, it was so exhilarating I knew immediately I was hooked.  The feeling does not fade much either.  Maybe it is because I don’t frequent a naturist beach, or a resort, or events as often as I like, but when I do each time I feel very similar to that first sunny day on Toronto Island.  I don’t think I am alone in this.  When at the GTA Skinny-dippersnude bowling event last month, the woman who asked “Are we good?” and then quickly undressed in a single motion, she felt it too, it was obvious in the grin on her face, and that memory will stay with me for a long time. 

At first I thought this rush was because to most people, at one point myself included, thought that naturism was taboo, a remnant of the 60’s hippie counter culture, or worse a kinky thing for swingers.  And like anytime you do something a little bit “naughty” you get a rush so I assumed that is what I was feeling. I know now I was wrong, It was not because it taboo or naughty, I no longer see things that way yet the feeling is the same. My interpretation was skewed, it is more like the rush you get playing a competitive game or sport or really any hobby. Excitement builds as you ready for the first pitch in baseball, and the joy when the ball hits the glove, the crowd gets into it.  No different than planning a night out with friends or a vacation, and so on.  And as soon as the game is over, like when you say goodbye to friends or return from vacation, you already look forward to the next time.

As a way to extend that feeling, I like to find the joy not just in being nude, but in the novelty of what I do while happily unhindered by clothes. I have actually thought a lot about this topic of late and probably mentioned it in previous posts. It has been even more top of mind as the weather has grown warmer the last few weeks and we even have a forecast of 27C today in the Toronto area. Automatically you think of the traditional naturist activities. Being outside and going for a walk in the forest, a game of volleyball, or swimming which is by far my personal favorite naturist activity.  These activities are fun on their own, and doing them while naked just enhances the experience. I however only have so many opportunities to be a naturist in nature. This work/life balance thing seems to lean more to work than life these days sadly.  As such I use every opportunity to be clothes free when I am at home and there are plenty of the more mundane activities, the things I would often put off doing or wish I could, that are somehow made less mundane and more of a novelty simply by doing them while naked. 

Household chores are a perfect example. You can spend an entire day sometimes just keeping a home clean. Vacuuming, sweeping, dusting. All things I hate. But all of these are done naked now and I tend to smile the whole time. Some of the dirtier jobs like dishes, mopping and cleaning bathrooms actually make sense to do naked. On weekends when I wake up I don’t bother with the usual shower to start my day.  Instead this is when I clean the bathrooms and mop floors, only once I am done do I hop in the shower. This means I save washing those clothes I would undoubtedly want to change out of had I worn them while cleaning and splashed dirty water etcetera on them.  This leads to fewer loads of laundry and  your clothes will last longer, yet another naturist advantage over textiles. It is hard to escape the irony of being naked while folding laundry. Even ironing clothes is ideal naked. Yesterday before work I ironed my shirt and pants and immediately put them on, then walked out the door.  So simple.  I also enjoy those moments when I have textile visitors who make comments like “How does a single male living alone manage to keep such a clean and tidy home?”

Recently a lot of media covered the Bunyadi restaurant in London UK. Opened as temporary pop-up restaurant as a sort of social experiment. They offered vegan and non-vegan uncooked meals and the dress code as “Optional”.  The idea being natural food, in your natural state.  Even the staff wore only discreate underwear (bottoms only) for legal hygiene reasons.  So successful the waiting list was over 46000 people long, and while planned as only temporary, plans are underway for a permanent location which I hope is up and running for my next trip across the pond.  Not that I have to travel that far to enjoy food naked.  I regularly eat while naked at home, and guess who makes those meals? I am not going to get dressed to cook the meal, then disrobe once I am done, so cooking naked is also a daily thing for me too. I do cheat here a little, bacon or anything in a frying pan is hazardous so I break out an apron. I always pack a picnic lunch when I make the trip down to Port Burwell. Otherwise I am putting on clothes, making the 15 minute walk to my car, 10 minute drive to town, 30-40 minutes to have your meal, then the 10 minute drive and 15 minute walk back to the beach…….that is time I could have been naked.  Same applies for visiting the local naturist clubs, Bare Oaks and Ponderosa. I always plan to eat there, both serve fresh food like sandwiches and burgers, why wouldn’t I take advantage.  I remember while at Bare Oaks, enjoying a drumstick ice cream cone, I dripped some ice cream down what would have been my shirt, quick dip in the pond, problem solved. I thought to myself how did I miss out on this for so long.

Another item getting lots of media attention is sleeping naked.  The good people of Facebook are always sharing yet another news article covering yet another study about the benefits of sleeping naked.  I have not worn anything to bed in several years.  I use to have a significant problem with insomnia and it didn’t occur to me until very recently how long it had been since I had any issues with insomnia. I realized that the last time I had a row of nights in a row without a good night’s sleep was before I started sleeping naked. I sleep more comfortably, I am cooler in the summer, yet don’t feel bothered in the winter.

I thought I would save the best for last.  I am fairly fortunate that my job allows me some flexibility and I am able to work remotely from home.  This means I often work naked which I can say is a hell of a good way to improve job satisfaction. Ever been on a long winded, time waster of a conference call? Think how happy you would be, no one has a clue the guy on the other end is completely naked.  Sometimes someone will joke that the people working from home could still be in their pajamas, which I have admitted to, as it is true in a

way.  Ever seen a business with a sign that says “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service”.  They don’t even mention pants. So on the rare occasion I am needed on a video conference I throw on a shirt, but that’s it.  Just don’t forget to close the screen before you stand up! Works gets done, and I smile more than my textile colleagues. Its a win win. 

I could honestly go on for pages.  I have one friend who we always watch movies at home in the nude. We watched hockey playoffs together several times this year and wore only our team jerseys (Go Leafs Go!). We even painted a room in her condo naked, was a bit of work getting the occasional drip of paint off my body….not to mention someone eventually gets a large spot of paint on the other “accidentally”. I am sure some of you reading this have a few of these activities in mind as well. I’d love to hear from the nude yoga folks.  I have never tried Yoga, but as with bowling, I may give it a try just to see it from a naked perspective.The point is once you try anything naked you start to wonder, why you wore clothes for that activity to begin with, why didn’t I think of this sooner, and what else should I be doing naked????  Clothes have their functions, but outside the function I no longer bother unless required.  

Hope you are enjoying my blog posts, I will keep them coming even if you don`t. Stay Naked! 

The Bunyadi Naked Restaurant - http://www.thebunyadi.com/

Bare Oaks - http://www.bareoaks.ca/
Ponderosa Nature Resort - http://ponderosaresort.ca/

Naked Bowling, Who Knew?

When I began my naturist journey it was largely a solo endeavor. With a rare exception, when I visit a nude/clothing optional beach or Ponderosa or Bare Oaks I tend to arrive alone, after years or travelling solo for work it far from bothers me. This does not mean I don’t enjoy chatting with others when I do visit naturist places, or that I don’t try to convince a close friend to join me every time I go, just that I am happy either way. 

Some time ago when looking for new ways/places to experience naturism I came across the GTA Skinny Dippers.  This group organizes events , mainly swimming at local pools, during the long Canadian winter so we Northern Nudes can shake some of the winter blues.  The one thing that truly got me hooked on naturism was swimming nude. It feels natural, no clinging swimsuit afterwards, and in the summer no tan lines (so vain, I know). Fate sadly has not allowed me to attend one of their swims yet, but when Nude Bowling showed up on their calendar and I actually had a clear day on my usually swamped weekend schedule, off I went!

I only live 15-20 minutes away from the event which worked out nice. Being excited I arrived really early, saw a large kids party still going strong so I was forced to wait patiently at the nearby coffee shop (never a Tim Hortons too far away in Canada).  I have to say the guy who ran the event had his ducks in a row, windows started being covered as soon, if not before, the previous party cleared, there was an easy signup, pay your admission, get a free pen (thank you very much!) and then just wait for the all clear.  While waiting you were able to sign your name to a lane, being on my own I told the guy to place me at random to a lane that was short on people, I felt this was the easiest way to meet new people rather than wandering around asking who had room in their lane. 

Clothes Off, Smiles On

As everyone waited for the go ahead to get undressed, people were already chatting and introducing themselves to others, one guy was having a hard time waiting, he had unbuttoned his shirt when he arrived, or maybe he came that way, whatever. Finally, one woman walked near the front, asked “are we good?”.  I didn’t hear the reply but I didn’t have to, in one continuous motion her dress was over her head and like the starting flag at a race everyone followed her lead.  So there I am, in a bowling alley and naked except for my socks, bowling shoes, and a baseball cap. I am surrounded by my fellow naturists, I would guess 70 at least, all smiles, all excited to socialize and bowl.  It did not take long to get past any awkwardness or worry when it came to actually bowling without clothes.  Bowling, as with most things I am discovering, is no different when naked, and the novelty of it makes it more enjoyable if you ask me.  It was an added bonus as it was 5-Pin bowling which is a uniquely Canadian version of the game that I don’t think I have played before.

The social aspect of it was amazing. I shared a lane with a group mixed with both first timers to this event, a couple regulars, and one gent who was still in his first few months of trying naturism.  This mix drove a lot of our initial conversation, “How long have you been a Naturist?”, “What clubs, beaches have you been to or go to frequently?” “Do your family and friends know?”.  This only went on for a short time and before long we were well into the standard banter you would expect when a group of people go bowling.  I have to give some credit to the staff at Streetsville Bowl, they were very professional.  At no point did I feel awkward when dealing with them, nor did I get a feeling it was awkward for them either.  Even the banter with the bartender was just another day at the bowling alley. I wonder if they were naturists themselves, or otherwise they maybe had worked enough of these events they are not fazed by it anymore. Or maybe social nudity is just not as shocking as it once was (one can hope).

One of the main highlights in a night of highlights for me was when going through some introductions someone says “Will? As in Will Canada?”. There is no shortage of conversation online between naturists and knowing some I have become friendly with on Facebook etc. may attend this event I was hoping to put faces to some names as it were.  It was wonderful to be able to actually do that and actually get a few games of bowling in with them too. 

Oh and then there was the bowling……

About the actual bowling, as someone who has not bowled in years, and never 5-Pin bowled at all, I think I did alright.  I never won a game, but didn’t come in last either. I managed to get a few strikes in so I was rather happy.  I do have to admit I was a bit sore the next day.  Not “I can’t feel my legs” sore, but there was some aches and pains for sure. I don’t remember bowling be that physical demanding a sport but there you are.  It could have been worse, I like to think that being naked allowed me more natural, freer movement, which meant I was actually avoiding further strains had my body been restricted in its movements by the tyranny of fabric.  Makes complete sense. Everything is just better naked (except cooking bacon)

I also want to note that I made it through the entire night, and this blog (until now) without a single balls, pins, or gutter joke.  This above all else is a significant accomplishment for me in any state of dress.

Special thanks to GTA Skinny Dippers for putting the event together, and to Streetsville Bowl for the use of their facility. This was a check on my bucket list and I am really looking forward to attending future events.

UNRELATED UPDATE:

I added a few new places to my Naturist Canada Map and expanded some details based on feedback from people who have actually viewed it.  Yes, they do exist.

Stay Naked my friends!

Nude Adventures

I have been spending a considerable amount of time this winter planning out not only when to get out in the Naturist world, but how to make the most of it.  I have been researching some local Naturist Resorts as well as both official and unofficial nude or clothing optional beaches and happily there are more than I realized.  You will still find me at Port Burwell, Ponderosa and the like, I even think I will give Wasaga Beach another try, but I intend to branch out this summer
In Canada you really have to dig for information in some cases however so I put some of my research to use and created my own map via Google to track some naturist locations I have been to or plan to in the future.  I actually made it public so if you have any interest in checking it out you will find it HERE.  I have focused mostly on areas close to home as well as places near destinations I am heading to this year (Winnipeg, Halifax, Ottawa) but I am only just starting, so please feel free to send my ideas or corrections via Facebook or Twitter or even the comments option below.
I have also found similar maps by the Federation of Canadian Naturists that lists all their member club locations, and NaturistWorld if you are looking more abroad.  I am actually hoping to attend a Conference in the UK this fall and if so fortunate I will be tacking on a few extra days to visit one of their many nude beaches, resorts, and even a nude restaurant in the middle of London, not that you cant eat in the nude at any naturist resort, but still something worth checking out.
That brings me to the "make the most of it" part. Sure I like a simple swim or hike au natural, in fact if I had nothing else to do in the nude that would be enough.  But there is so much more out there and why wouldn't I give some new things a try like a nude restaurant in London if given the opportunity. Once again Facebook has been my friend here as the various naturist groups and their events pages are a wealth of ideas.  So on top of a planned camping trip to Bare Oaks, I also plan to take part in their 5K nude fun run on July 3rd.  I have never done anything like 5K with clothes on so this will be a double bucket list item for me.  Nude Bowling? Why not? Only today I discovered GTA Skinnydippers is having another nude bowling event in April. I have been unlucky with the timing of their events so far this winter but this event is a must try for me. They were even featured on Naked Clubs YouTube Channel last time out.
Everyone should have a little adventure in their life.  And becoming/being a naturist for me has truly been an adventure that is only getting better.

Just for fun here are a few of my Naked Adventures "Bucket List" for this coming year.

• Camping at a Naturist Resort
• Get my friend Tara to visit a Naturist Resort
• Bare Oaks 5k Nude Fun Run
• Nude Bowling
• Nudist Abroad - Long shot but Britain is a (cold) possibility in the fall.
• Cap d'Agde (Maybe I will win the lotto???)

As always, comments are welcome, stay naked my friends! 

New Hope for Ontario Nudists and Naturists?

I have a couple things I felt compelled to update from some of my previous posts on this blog as new information has come to light and I have time to share it.  I previously lamented in those blog updates that the naturist / nudist world in Southern Ontario was taking couple steps backwards. But thankfully there may be some hope. It’s amazing how much you can find out while waiting for a very much delayed flight.

The first item I wanted to update was about Hanlans Point, which is the only sanctioned public clothing optional beach in Ontario, one of only two in the whole country sadly.  My last few visits to Hanlans Point were less than enjoyable as I found the clothing optional portion had more "textiles" than naturists or even the clothing mandatory side did for that matter. And of those "textiles" the vast majority were apparently there to gawk rather than show any interest in experiencing the joys of outdoor nudity.  Their loss I say

Previous Blog: Hanlan's Point......Naked no more 

As such, I have essentially written off this as an option for me. For either the cost of a day pass at one of two area naturist resorts, or the drive to Port Burwell (where a short walk from the provincial park gets you to private land where naturists are welcomed) you get all the naturism and none of the gawkers.
I still have hope for Hanlans however more support is needed.  A petition (Click Here) has been started proposing to the local councillor Pam McConnell that the city should partition the beach into three sections: nude mandatory, clothing optional, and clothing mandatory.  There is only 51 signatures on the online petition so far but hopefully some of you will actually read this and it can gain some momentum.   Fingers, toes, and eyes crossed.

Next I move a bit North to Wasaga Beach, where there was a small but growing movement to make part of the secluded eastern beach at the Provincial Park that was already being frequently used by naturists, legally a nude beach. 

Previous Blog: Tale of Two "Unofficial" Beaches

I made two separate attempts to find the nude beach area (once on a weekday, again on a weekend in case I had missed something) and found nothing but signs warning that nudity is prohibited.  When I sought help from the Facebook group “Wasagabares” that promoted and supported the naturist use of this beach I found it went dormant around May of 2016. Thus I gave up on Wasaga beach as an option and moved on however perhaps I did so too soon.  A recent article (View Here) was shared by a friend on Facebook that not only gave me hope that the cause was not lost, but also explained the dormant Wasagabares group.
I turns out that in May 2016, John Cropper, who is the force behind Wasaga Bares, was charged with "engaging in a prohibited activity" at Wasaga Beach Provincial Park. Now at first glance this could be seen as the end of the dream but if you read the article, John is taking the fight to court in hopes it will set a legal precedent and thus benefit us all. It also explains why the Wasaga Bares page went silent, John may be avoiding it to prevent it impacting his legal battle.  In either case, this gives me some hope and I truly hope he is successful.  

If you live in or visit either Toronto or Southern Ontario as a whole and want more information and possible updates on these two subjects I would suggest you check out the below Facebook groups.  You can also follow my blog or my twitter account @NudeInCanada

Stay naked friends!

Hanlans Nudists/Naturists
Ontario Naturists
Wasagabares