Naked with Friends

I am a fairly solitary naturist. Not that am not anti-social, I just don't know many naturists well enough that I socialise with them outside of the friendly "hello, how are you" when I see a familiar face at Ponderosa.  I prefer to keep my Naturist and textile worlds apart presently, it keeps things less complicated.  That may disqualify my as a naturist in the eyes of some but its my choice.
I am open about my naturist life with only three textile friends. A single woman I have known since high school who is my closest platonic friend, and a couple who I have been close friends with for some time now and tend to be open and very liberal in most things in life.  Now I have invited the couple (I'll call them John and Amy, not their real names) to join me at the nude beach or a Naturist club and while open to the idea, seemed to have excuses or were otherwise unavailable so I stopped asking.  I never really invited my single friend (will call her Tara, not real either) other than a "you should try it" when I first opened up about naturism with her, I just didn't think she was the type, and as we are VERY platonic, I didn't think anyone she dated would be happy to here about here going to nude beaches with her guy friend. She's my oldest friend, less complication is better
Last week I mentioned I was taking the day off to head down to Port Burwell's nude beach, and to my surprise, Tara asked if it was a mandatory nude beach so that she could join me and keep her suit on. I actually have no idea what the rule is at Port Burwell, the actual park does not permit nudity, you have to walk past the parks boundary to private property where the owners allow the nude beach. I figured if anyone had an issue we'd setup right on the boundary line, I could go nude, and she would sit next to me on the park side in her swimsuit. Problem solved. 
When we arrived at the nude beach, there was only around four other people there so we found a place off on our own in the hopes no one would bother her for being "overdressed" in a skimpy bikini. I got undressed, she as expected kept her bikini on and we setup our towels and umbrella for the day. We decided to go for a swim in the lake but when we stood up to walk to the water she sort of paused, had a sort of confused look on her face, and then after a moment she says "Fuck it", takes her swim suit off, and runs into the lake. I  couldn't help but laugh, I had no idea she was even considering being naked but I suppose the fact that we were virtually alone, and of the sparsely populated beach she was the only one NOT naked, may have given her the final push I didn't even know she was looking for.  
Later as we walked along the beach, Tara even managed to say "good morning" to a naked gentleman as we passed him.  
Sadly it is apparently horse or deer fly season near Port Burwell in September and those suckers bite. After only about an hour and a half, most of which was in the water to avoid the flies, we packed up and went home.
I am very proud of Tara, apparently she even bragged to "Amy" about going even though she claimed to only go "skinny dipping". But maybe that might start the conversation for the group of us to go to the nude beach some day. Sadly we may have to wait for spring based on the weather, this still is Canada after all and Fall is upon us.
Regardless, it was a nice to have a close friend join me and see it become very natural for them.  There was no awkwardness about being naked together, it was just another day at the beach. 

Hanlan's Point......Naked no more

Despite recent media attention about confrontations between Naturists/Nudists and textiles at Hanlan's Point and Wreck Beach, I decided to take advantage of the excellent weather and took the ferry across to Toronto Island. I had planned on spending am entire day on the island with the majority at the clothing optional side of Hanlans Point Beach but it was just not meant to be and this is likely to have been my last visit to Hanlan's Point. I think I may have said this before but for the near future at least, I am done with being part of a tourist attraction.
Things started well enough, I arrived around 10 am and the beach was already fairly busy with all types enjoying the only public place in Ontario you can be naked on a normal day.   By lunch time however things changed for the worse
I was in the central part of the beach, far enough I thought from the clothing mandatory side to avoid gawkers who would wander over, but I soon found two large groups of "textiles" setting up in the middle of several naturists. One group was very obviously there for the show and you could see it bothered many of those there to be naturists, myself included. One couple packed up and left when it became clear the group was having a laugh at their appearance. A core principle of Naturism is body acceptance and this couple were on a naturist clothing optional beach facing a group of bullies body shaming them in a place that by design should be one of openness and acceptance, not shame and embarrassment. And while not a target of their shame, I too had seen enough and packed up to leave

As I got dressed I had a look around and the beach was now 80% textiles compared to earlier when I arrived when it was closer to 80% naturists and most of the other 20% were accompanying the naturists which is OK in my opinion. I decided to have a stroll along the clothing mandatory beach on my way out and I found it almost completely empty. So any idea that overcrowding in the clothing mandatory side was overflowing to the optional beach is unfounded. As I have said in my previous post "Clothing Optional" , if you are wading in and testing the naturist /nudist waters so be it, that's what clothing optional beaches are for. But if you want to see naked people for fun, there are strip clubs and the Internet, leave the beaches for the more open minded.‎ I worry the textile intrusion is irreversible at Hanlan's Point and the clothing optional beach will die a slow death. 
I for one wont be returning anytime soon especially now that I have discovered Port Burwell, which while further away, is a much better experience 

On a much happier note I finally made my way out to Bare Oaks, I'll post about it in the near future. Had such a great time and I am trying to do a write up that won't look I work for their marketing team (Naked Marketing, how do I get that job???!!!)

Clothing Optional?

I touched on this once or twice before but a recent story by CBC news got me thinking about this again.  Before I get into the story let me revisit a few things first
When you visit a resort like Ponderosa or Bare Oaks their clothing policies are fairly simple.  Most if not all of the resorts are clothing NOT optional.  With some allowances for newbies to test the waters so to speak, or weather, you go to a naturist resort to be natural, aka nude, in nature.  My experiences at Ponderosa with this have been nothing less than wonderful. 
My experience at Hanlan's Point, while still excellent, has not been the same.  I've previously mentioned that a fair size minority, sometimes majority of those in the clothing optional part of the beach choose not to take the option.  If you are genuinely there to see for yourself what its like before you try naturism/nudism and either decide its not for you, or chicken out as it were, so be it.  My first time at Hanlan's I damn near turned around myself.  When the company picnic was on Toronto Island last year, there were silly jokes by colleagues about checking it out, having a peak etc but no one actually went over (that I know of).  This years picnic about a month ago was also on the Island, happened to at a site right next to both the clothing optional and clothing mandatory beaches and this time several colleagues did sneak off to walk the beach. Now had the group actually been brave enough to say they were going to try it out, I might have considered going along.  These are not just colleagues but people I socialise with outside work as well.  But it was clear they were going to peak at all the "nudies". Leaving the fact that I am a naturist out of it, I tried to speak up but it was of no use, they wanted to get their look.
Having written about my experiences with this before I was not going to again but then I saw the article by CBC Canada's nudists feeling overexposed by onlookers . It appears the problem is worse than even I noticed and some naturist/nudists have taken to posting signs implying nudity was mandatory and even confronting those "textiles" that don't go nude.
While I agree with the sentiment and would love to see a stop to the gawking,  I disagree with these actions for a couple reasons.  

1. That person very may well be a bit nervous to take the step towards naturism and who are we to tell them what they can or cannot wear? Its that attitude that keeps naturism secluded to a few sparse resorts and two public clothing option beaches in Canada.  If you choose to dip your toe in the water, or dive right in, that's your choice. If the naturism movement and culture is to grow, it has to be done in an open and inclusive way, not via confrontation.
2. If you feel nudity should be mandatory, and I could get behind this very quickly, petition the city as in the past to remove the option on the naturist beach, or split the beach in three, one for textiles, one for clothing optional for those taking a first step, and one for nudity mandatory.  
3. There are alternatives like Ponderosa and Bare Oaks in the GTA.  I have read of some private beaches (ie one near Port Burwell Provincial park).  I've not been personally but have read in a few places online that Naturism is permitted at some locations and tend to be only frequented by non-textile types.

While I completely agree that the clothing optional beaches can get a bit crowded with those just checking out the sights.  But it is a public beach and there for the use of all.  I would no sooner ask someone to remove their clothes than I would want someone to tell me to put mine back on. I'd love to hear other opinions on this, its a long overdue discussion.

Individual Naturist

I may have mentioned it in previous posts (maybe I should go back and read them myself) but I am your very typical single white male in my 30's.  I was self inspired to join the nudist/naturist world and after many visits now to Hanlan's Point and Ponderosa Nature Resort I still mostly keep to myself when among my fellow naturists.  
There have been exceptions.  I had a wonderful conversation with a nice couple in the hot tub at Ponderosa last winter.  Then there is the "to be expected" polite conversation with various employees at the resort who sign you in, take your order at the bar or restaurant (dining naked is an experience of its own, might write about it another time).  All are truly just like any other polite conversation you have at a resort, minus the clothes.  I am a bit surprised even as I write this how normal it all feels in a very short time
The real stand out for me came when at Hanlan's recently I was approached by some people who didn't have a bottle opener, I didn't have one either but I showed them the old college tricks to pop the top with a lighter or a key ring.  I was dutifully rewarded with several beverages and to join their company for the next few hours of my visit.  The reason this was a standout for me was that the group was a perfect mix of fully nude men and women, one woman only topless, but also a few who stuck with their swimsuits.  No one really addressed the fact that some people were partially or fully naked.  It was just another day at the beach and I had a wonderful time.
Those experiences are in the minority for me so far though.  My typical visit is to show up, drop my shorts, read my book, take a swim in the pool or lake, get dressed and go home.  I have yet to make any new naturist friends.  I am normally a very outgoing person but maybe the whole naked thing is keeping me more reserved than normal.  The group at Hanlon's was a lot of fun however I was a good 5-10 years older then anyone else, so its not like I was exchanging numbers or becoming friends on Facebook.  I got as far as to follow a couple of them on Instagram, that it
And while I am very happy with my new found lifestyle, its not exactly something I can go discussing at work or the family BBQ.  True naturists will likely ask me why not? But then maybe I am not a true naturist yet.  Reality is my career could be adversely affected if I were to open up about this in the office, and I see my family enough already,  so I'd rather not have this in common with them.  Most of my friends are rather liberal and if I one day run into someone I know at Hanlon's or a resort I will be elated, but until then I like my friends, the fear of scaring people away is real, even though maybe it shouldn't be.
Even in the liberal free-loving world of naturism, being the single male is an problematic.  Resorts and clubs work hard to engage and be open to newcomers yet the stigma of society cast a shadow here as well.  Bare Oaks actually covers this in the "About Naturism - Making Friends" section of their website:

For single men in particular, intentions can easily be misinterpreted. It is normal for a single man to want to find a partner. But it is a fine line between showing interest and being creepy. Not all single women come to Bare Oaks looking to meet someone. Women appreciate naturism because it allows them to escape society’s pressure to reach an impossible ideal of physical beauty. In naturism, they feel accepted for who they are. But too much attention from a single man, as friendly as it might be, can remind them of mainstream society’s oppressive focus on their body. It can feel like harassment. ~Bareoaks.ca

 If you dig around in their site long enough, there is also a section that mentions while all are welcome, they to try to maintain a roughly 60/40 minimum men to women and I will be honest, I don't blame them.  The reality of our society is that a lot of women wont feel comfortable if heavily outnumbered by men in many situations, clothed or not.
So single men like myself can be left to enjoy the world of naturism in more isolation for fear of offending or making others uncomfortable.
This actually resulted in my most recent sunburn if I'm honest.  I cannot just ask any old stranger to apply some to my back (or maybe I can but the thought of it feels awkward enough)  so I buy the spray on type to ensure my back gets properly covered however the windy days it is easy to miss a spot and WOW does that hurt the next day. 
Perhaps I will get over my personal hangups, but aside from the occasional sunburn I am really enjoying the naturist world and the solitude is actually a benefit sometimes.

In my own back yard.

So I did something this week that was truthfully a little daring, or at least it felt that way.  My home backs on to a wooded ravine of sorts, and its partially blocked but not entirely from those across the way.  Add in the nosey neighbours and my entire yard is exposed.....with a small exception.  So today while working from home I decided to make use of the small exception.  I placed a lawn chair in the right place, aimed it away from nosey neighbour house which if they really tried I am sure they could still see all they want, grabbed my laptop, a cooler full of water (and maybe a beer), and as I sat in the chair, dropped my shorts to the ground.  This made my day more than I thought possible.  I spent several hours outdoors today, limited by my laptop battery sadly.  I'll go shopping for a good extension cord this week to extend the time as much as possible.
And sure I would love to go further, mow the lawn, dig in the garden, go for a stroll in the valley all in my natural glory, but laws and respect for the neighbours kept me to a small corner of the yard.  I am not going to complain though, its not easy balancing the working life with visiting the clothing optional beach or a Naturist resort as often as I want.  So wandering my home or making my way to the one obscure corner of the yard will have to do for now.  I am on course for a personal best actually, with the exception walking to and from the small corner of my yard, I've been au natural for several days in a row thanks to working from home and planing the groceries supply well in advance.  I am saving a small fortune on laundry!

Naturist in Nature......Almost

It's been a been a bit of an up and down spring as far as temperature goes and I have only once been a proper Naturist in nature this spring, which is ultimately the point.   But with better weather in the forecast I am reviewing my Options to shed the clothes outdoors.

Hanlan's Point is legally the only clothing optional public place in Southern Ontario where I live. For the cost of the ferry (15$ round trip) plus parking or Transit, its a great option, but as a clothing optional beach there is a chance for gawkers which I have commented on in previous posts.  Forecast on the Island hits 20C next week, not great but very tempting.

Wasage Beach has been getting some attention in the news of late. Personally I was getting excited that the "WasagaBares" were getting some traction on a Clothing Optional section at Wasaga Beach however the local council and Ontario Parks (who owns that portion of the beach) are both going back and forth on their support of the idea. Click HERE to read more on that in the news.  Unofficially people have been going au natural there for years so for the brave its a low cost option (aka FREE) provided you don't get a fine should the police decide to enforce the law that day which is apparently very rare.  Forecast hits up to 23C next week, not bad. Down side of gawkers here too.

Inland the forecast is saying as high as 28C so this may mean the two nearest fully nude resorts are the best option, Ponderosa  or maybe even make the drive out to Bare Oaks finally.  Both resorts charge around 50$ for a single day visit (discounts for couples/families though) which is fair for what they offer, but steep for those of us with fixed incomes and schedules that don't make becoming a full member viable.  Both resorts offer fully nude environments (with the exception of staff at Ponderosa which confuses me to no end) with all the comforts you want (pools, restaurants, bathrooms etc) without the "optional" risk of gawkers.  Both offer lots of info for Newbie Nudists so check out their websites or on social media.

For at least another week I remain a nudist indoors, however I look forward to getting some all over vitamin D very soon.

Spring!

This really is the best time of year, it does not have to be 25C or 30C degrees plus to fell "hot", Any day with sun is a great day.  I made it out to Hanlan's point last Sunday and there was plenty of naturists like me who have been struggling to make it through winter.  I was only able to stay for a couple hours but it was great.  Still not that brave as to go and talk to others at the beach, I'm normally an outgoing person but I tend to keep to myself at Hanlan's as I don't want to impose on someones day at the beach.  I'm fine with that though, I was just happy to feel the sun on my skin.

Not that I have been missing out completely.  I have been making the most of my work from home days spending entire days in the buff.  Earlier this week I was fortunate enough to have two days in row working from home, plus no plans that night so I took advantage and spent more than 48 hours consecutively naked.  That's a record for me and it was pure bliss.  I am not sure how my colleagues at work would react if they found out I spent hours talking to them on various phone calls completely naked. I will admit I had a bit a smile on my face the whole time.

There was at one point a knock on my door, I've not had to deal with this while naked before so was unsure what to do. I was out of reach of anything but a small hand towel so I figured its likely a salesman, I will just ignore it.  I am not even sure what my legal rights are in Ontario, might actually break the law opening my door in the buff.  Until I learn otherwise my door may go unanswered for some time.

Its going to be a bit cooler over the next week so no more beach trips for now, but I am planning a camping trip to Bare Oaks which I am really looking forward to.

WinterNude Blues

As someone who did not get into the the whole Naturist experience until the summer was almost over last year, winter has been a tough pill to swallow.  Other than time at home, there are not exactly a lot of options to live the Naturist lifestyle through the winter months in the Great White North.  I finally found a free afternoon last week to visit the Ponderosa Nature Resort which is only a 20-30 min drive away and happens to have an indoor pool.  In previous posts I think I mentioned once or twice that swimming naked is among my very favourite things to do.  $40 was a small price to pay to do laps in the pool without need of swim shorts. Being a weekday afternoon there was only a few other visitors and for a solid hour I essentially had the pool and hot tub to myself. Bliss.  

Having visited Ponderosa before I was not surprised to see the staff fully clothed.  I know its winter but the clubhouse was kept nice and warm and knowing that they also remain clothed during the summer I still find this an abnormality for those promoting the Naturist lifestyle.  One day I'll get the nerve to ask but until then I don't wish to rock the boat.  

As a small break to the Winter Blues, this visit a good dose of medicine, but not the cure.  Spring won't come soon enough for me this year.  Sadly, until then, my Naturist activities will peak at sitting in front of the fireplace with my laptop talking to myself in blog form. 

Working from home = Working Naked

I wanted to put a short post up today cause I spent the entire day today in the buff.  I am rather fortunate as I am able to work from home rather often (Thank you internet and the high cost of corporate real estate).  Today I took full advantage of this.  For lack of another term it was very "liberating".  I had conference calls all day and to be speaking to people over the phone while completely naked is an excellent experience.  I was grinning the whole time especially when my supervisor made a comment about the fact I was working from home today to a larger group that I was likely still in my pyjamas.  The group got a good laugh and I told them I was in fact in my pyjamas, which as I sleep naked this was not a lie.

The "winter blues" are especially true for a naturist in Canada.  The reality is that you cannot experience Naturism the same way in the winter as you can the rest of the year. I feel like this may be the secret cure to them for me however.  

Social Nudity

When I first started writing this blog my motivation was that I could not find a lot about the "human experience" with Naturism / Nudists.  Its not that they are not out there, but they are few and far between and any time you step into a new world, support, clarity and understanding make all the difference.  I have seen a few articles where Journalists write about their first experience with Naturism, and while this has made for some entertaining reading, I found most painted more of a caricature and that the real experience is lost in the need for an entertaining read.  I am not a professional writer, and if anyone was actually reading my posts I am sure I'd be primed for literary feedback so I really shouldn't be too judgemental.

Adding my voice to the conversation has been a benefit personally more so than I thought it would, in a sort of therapeutic way, even if no one is listening.  If they are, I hope it helps them a little too. However seeing as we are now well into the Social Media era, I should not be surprised that the "human experience" gaps could actual be filled, not in traditional journalism, but in Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.  Despite the best efforts of such progressive groups as the "Free The Nipple" movement and Young Naturist's of America, most social media still chooses to block the natural human body as an obscenity or pornography, rather than the true human form that should be celebrated. That being said, they remain a useful tool for someone like myself, looking for some clarity and support. 

The two resorts nearest me that I've already mentioned several times, Ponderosa, and Bare Oaks, both have increased their social media presence on Facebook and Twitter to promote their resorts.  Bare Oaks also have an Instagram page.  My experience so far with Facebook is that its great for straight information, what/when are things going on etc, but its in Twitter, and to my utmost surprise Instagram, that I have found actual Naturism experiences being shared.  And its amazing to see like minded people share photos of themselves and their friends au natural, conveniently angled or shadowed (there is even an app for that) to meet silly conservative guidelines.  When you add to those pictures the comments that go with them, its amazing the stories you begin to see.  People of all shapes, colours, genders, going on amazing adventures, seeing incredible sights, and the general feeling of freedom they experience. They don't always tell the full story but what I have taken away from them so far is that this journey I am on, while I might be travelling solo, I am not alone.  And that feeling of community with other Naturists is something that encourages me and inspires me to keep moving forward, be happy with who I am and who I want to be.
I suggest you check out some of the following Naturists, groups, individuals, and artists, on Instagram, you will likely take something different away from them than I have, but I am sure it will be positive.

Disclaimer: I do not know anyone of the below people or groups personally, I've only seen them on Instagram and found them inspiring. Take from it as you may

@Naked.in.nature
@benudebefree
@livefreephotography.ca
@getyourassintonature
@thegirlwhosaid
@the.m.u.s.e.
@youngnaturistsnyc
@freethenipple
@experiencenaturism
@bareoaks2015

Winter Blues

So far its been a mild winter, I have been lucky enough to be living the Naturist lifestyle most of the time when I am home.  Most days I have been so bold as to keep the majority of my window shutters open with a few exceptions out of respect for the nearby neighbours.  We have had a mild winter so far with plenty of sunny days, making up for being unable to venture out into the more public naturist world.  
I have not made it out yet to Ponderosa resort and made use of their indoor pool sadly. They are not that far a drive but finding time has been difficult, I truly want to check this out. Swimming is the one thing that stands out for me that makes naturism enjoyable. Not to say I don't enjoy the feeling on a hot sunny day at the beach or even watching TV in the buff at home.  But to swim at Hanlans Point and the couple of visits I made to the outdoor pool at Ponderosa, that's what has got me hooked on naturism up to this point.  And having discovered this so late in the season last year, I really can't wait for summer this year more than any before.
There is also a " GTA Skinny Dippers" club in Toronto, I'll have to give one of their events a try after work one night as that may be easier to work into my schedule.  I promise to update once I do try either Ponderosa or GTA Skinny Dippers out as a winter alternative.  Until then a few tips on home winter naturism.

1. Be considerate of your neighbours, this is for you, not them, so keep windows with an easy view covered.  I keep all the back windows uncovered though as I am lucky to have a ravine behind my home keeping the nearest home at a distance.  Best time for open shutters is when the sun is on the window, you get some vitamin D, and the reflection makes it difficult for outsiders to  see in
2. On colder days, a sweater and warm slippers make up for a lack of pants really well.
3. Nude under a blanket still feels nude, so when watching TV or reading, this is a good compromise.
4. There are options outside if you can find the time (unlike me).  Ponderosa has an indoor pool, GTA Skinny Dippers plans events at local pools and even bowling if thats your thing.  Bare Oaks has a large indoor hottub, and they were promoting a Naturist event at a Museum in Kitchener, so options exist, take advantage of them!

If it turns out anyone is actually reading this and I am not just talking to myself, I would appreciate feed back on the National naturist organizations, and is membership worth it?  Comment or contact me directly via the blog.  I know some resorts/clubs offer discounts to members of these organizations, so is it worth it?  $50 CDN a year for the Federation of Canadian Naturists.  I'd love to hear back.

Northern Nudes

So with the weather cooling quickly, I've put a lot of thought into how to continue the wonderful world of being naked, when wearing more layers would be the normal course of action.  In my previous posts I covered the beach at Hanlons Point, Ponderosa resort etc, which are less of an option as we move into another Canadian winter.  Ponderosa is still an option as they have an indoor pool and other activities available. I think I will venture to the resort one weekend to see how the nightlife and special events are are a naturist resort and if/when I do, I'll be sure to blog about it.  However even in the summer, the main place I enjoy my freedom is in my own home.  Its convenient, no intimidating crowds, and best of all its free!
On the surface winter should not present a problem at home but there are a roadblocks even there.  Last year I made use of extra layers, blankets, slippers etc, so that I can use less heating, thus saving some money on the gas bill, and being slightly more environmentally friendly.  But now a few pennies here and there seems a small price to pay to raise the temperature at home a few degrees and allow me to continue my nude at home lifestyle.  Jury is still out on this but with no beach to look forward to until spring, I am leaning towards raising the heat a little.
Another thing to think about is the windows.  So far I have figured out what windows need the curtains or shutters closed so as not to expose myself or shock the neighbours.  I know some naturists insist that this is should not be necessary but I am not looking to draw any attention to myself .  My house backs on to a wooded ravine so I tend to leave those shutters open during the day. With the leaves falling I've been wondering that the nosey neighbours across the way might have a view right into my living room and bedroom, where I have been spending 90% of the time in the buff even with the shutters open.  Do I say to hell with the neighbours and get my dose of Vitamin D or close those shutters as well?  So far I have been leaving them open, it would take some effort for the couple across the ravine to get a good view, who am I to deny the woman (or her husband) a show if they put the effort in to see it.  I may change my mind as the trees become as bare as I am, but for now the good times continue.
And it has been good fun.  I spend a fair majority of my home time in the nude now. I tend to keep a pair of track pants and a t-shirt nearby in case there is a knock at the door but have yet to need it.  I relax in front of the TV and on one rather cool evening I even got the fireplace going which was an excellent experience I highly recommend. There is a significant amount of novelty doing everyday things naked as well. I've made myself diner (nothing with bacon, I'm not crazy), watched Baseball on TV, and my job allows me to work from home now and then, so why not do that in the nude too?  No Video conferencing though!  And to add a little irony to my life, I now enjoy doing the laundry while naked, which as an added benefit, there is less laundry to do when you wear fewer clothes!
I may bundle up more as the nights grow colder and if I learn any tips to delay the inevitable layers, I'll be sure to share them.

The Naturist Experience

This whole nudist/naturist experience so far has truly been (for lack of a better word) liberating.  Having been to Hanlon's Point a few times now I have begun to question why this is not more common.  If you read my previous posts, you know my biggest draw back to the whole clothing optional beach thing is the "optional" part.  I get that for newbies it can be intimidating especially for women who even though legal almost everywhere to go topless but still face double standards making them uncomfortable to take advantage of this right. But once you go in the buff, you start to notice those around you who are not. Eventually I realised I didn't care, I was there for me, not them, but for those new to this, I can imagine this may scare some away completely

So for those feeling so bold I would suggest you consider a "Naturist Resort".  There are two in the Toronto area.  I've been to one, I plan to try the other, until then I wont attempt to compare the two.

• Ponderosa Nature Resort - Located just off Hwy 6 about halfway between Hamilton and Guelph - ponderosaresort.ca/
  TripAdvisor Reviews - http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g154990-d1238971-Reviews-Ponderosa_Nature_Resort-Hamilton_Ontario.html
• Bare Oaks Family Naturist Resort - Just north east of New Market, about 30 minutes outside Toronto. - www.bareoaks.ca/
  TripAdvisor Reviews - http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotel_Review-g804488-d1005325-Reviews-Bare_Oaks_Family_Naturist_Park-East_Gwillimbury_Ontario.html

Both are essentially camp grounds with some trailers or Cabins to rent, or you can stop in for the day for about 50$. I thought that seemed a bit pricey but there are deals for families or couples and when you compare to parking and the ferry in Toronto its not that far off.  They have pools and all sorts of other activities and target "family friendly" environments.  I chose Ponderosa first based on proximity only as I live just west of Toronto. 

I honestly wish I had gone here before Hanlon's Point.  I picked the Labour Day Monday to visit as the weather was perfect and this time I wanted a crowd hoping I would be lost in it and not stand out too much.  Wow, was this place jumping.  There was all walks of life, single, couples, families with children, young and old, and while predominantly Caucasian, there was a racial mix as well.  But what really made this a great experience was how friendly they all were.  The staff know you are going to be feeling awkward the first time so they walk you through everything, gave me a mini tour and even introduced me to some "regulars" and a few first timers like myself as well.  I was there less than a minute before I forgot I was naked and was chatting at the bar as if it was any other resort.  Because the pool area is mandatory 100% nude, you don't have the nagging feeling about gawkers or feeling self concious about your body as whatever your body type, you are not alone!  Even though I was there for only a day it felt like a full mini vacation, I read my book in the sun, swam in the pool (still my favourite part), and had a few drinks at the swim up bar.  I even went for a walk in the woods (though not well marked, Ponderosa has a fair amount of trails).

The one thing I did not expect was that the staff were all clothed, which is a bit hypocritical.  I get it for the guy working the kitchen, but the women working the front desk, the guy who gave me the tour, both bartenders, all clothed.  One bartender was in a swimsuit, fine, otherwise, I was completely confused by this.  Other than that, this was an excellent visit.  I had a great time, felt truly comfortable in my own skin, and it even changed my mind set for my next trip to Hanlan's (I'll probably talk about that more in a later post)

One other tip for newbies to a Naturist/Nudist resort. I say this now that summer is over, and most will wait for spring to likely give this a try. If you go on a busy weekend, or generally don't want to stand out too much as a newbie, go earlier in the year. I was by far the only one there with any visible tan lines. I may as well have been wearing a pair of white shorts.....so much for not standing out in the crowd on Labour Day.  Oh well.  I look forward to spring and working to resolve this issue.

One quick word on Bare Oaks.  While Ponderosa was a great experience with excellent facilities and I without a doubt will return. I've not been to Bare Oaks (yet) but what I can tell so far is their web presence is very well done.  Full marks for having a Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram and even a blog (go figure).  Use the link I attached near the top of this post and then scroll to the bottom of the home page for links to all their social media accounts as well as some partners pages.  Some of the best resources for newbies I've seen so far so check it out!

Still a "Newdist" but not a Newbie

It was a little over a week later I finally got another chance to make my way to Hanlan's Point Clothing Optional beach.  I was not feeling so brave as to face a weekend crowd yet however work and weather was against me.  Getting time off during the week was next to impossible, not that it mattered as the days had been cool or it was raining.  So soon enough I found my self on the Hanlan's Ferry on a Sunday, hoping that it being only forecasted to hit 23*C with a sun/cloud mix the large crowds would stay away.  It was not.  The beach while not overflowing with people was still rather crowded.
I did a quick look around as I arrived at the clothing optional portion of the beach, surprising enough the majority ware taking the option.  So I decide to be brave, undress right there and make my way through the crowds until I found a spot in the sun to lay out my towel.  The demographics were about what I'd seen last time.  Most of those on the beach were men and most of them were starkers. Some alone, some with their girlfriends, some with their boyfriends, even a few groups.  Only a few ladies were completely in the buff that I noticed, others were topless, most kept their swimsuits/clothes on.
I quickly got settled into my book but I am really having a hard time understanding why so many people visit a beach, that has both clothing mandatory and optional sections, would choose the optional beach but not take the option.  It didn't phase me to the point I felt uncomfortable or wanted to leave, but I can totally understand why that would bother someone who was new, especially if they were female.  On this occasion there was even a few families with younger children in the nude, how did their parents feel about the clothed people on the optional side of the beach?
Ok, so I have focused on the gawkers enough, back to my day at the beach.  I learned a few things from my first visit that I took advantage this time around.  First, most people sneak alcohol to this beach.  Some don't hide it much, others were using travel mugs etc. I am positive this is not legal, however from what I could tell, no one was really enforcing the law here either.  So I had along with me this time a few beers in a soft sided mini cooler along with my trusty travel mug, just in case.  I also learned from my first visit that while you can rent lounge chairs at Halan's Point, there is not always someone there renting them so I packed a small travel pillow along with my towel to make reading a bit more comfortable.
So what next?  Another day, fully naked in the sun.  This was becoming more comfortable very fast and I felt I needed to take the next step.  I knew there was nudist resorts not far from the city so I decided to start my research again.  Google this time was actually a lot of help, and it did not take long to realize there was a list of pro's and cons to these resorts.  I'll try and articulate all that in my next post.

You always remember your first

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.  Its 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.  Its hard to explain the feeling or 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

Tearing off the band aid

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, nothing seemed to prepare me for my first time. 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. Its 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 mostly men, most obviously older or obviously gay, all naked.  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.

Newbie Nudist = Newdist??

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 any more, 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 no where near the clothing optional beach, with this being a work event that was likely for the best, but that didn't stop the all to 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 wont dare dive into, it 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 to 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.
I've already visited the clothing optional beach a few times now, and I really want to write about those experiences however this is a form of therapy for me, so if anyone is actually looking at this before I get to the next post, you'll have to forgive me for dragging this out a bit.  IF anyone does read this, feel free to comment as I think some positive discussion couldn't hurt either.