A Big shock
By Cindy
When my husband and I decided to try naturism it was here in the UK. We often spent time around the house with nothing on but not intentionally stripping off, just after a bath or in the morning.
The girls were growing up and we were looking for something we could do together as a couple so, we decided to give naturism a try. We had never been to a nude beach or anything similar when we made this decision so making contact with a club was both exciting and frightening.
The hardest part was actually walking into the club but we had arranged to be met by one of the club members (a couple). They let us walk around with our towels for comfort while they showed us the facilities and then purposely left us alone to decide if we actually wanted to go ahead with it or not. We both stood by the pool side and after about 5 minutes decided to just "go for it".
The biggest shock was that no one even noticed. I think we were expecting gasps of shock and finger pointing at the couple stripping of to jump into the pool ... it just felt so different, so strange ... but ... WE DID IT ... HURRAY.
Only other strange observation was that another new couple wanted to meet the people who showed us around, and asked us to describe them ... how do you describe someone without clothes on? A very strange experience when you're not used to it.
Only regret now is that we didn't try it earlier.
Bite the bullet and try it!
By Ian
My first naturist event: Club Soleil swim at the Bedford Oasis pool, September 2005.
I had been a "closet naturist" for almost as long as I can remember; naked at home when it suited me and occasionally walking naked when I was out with the dog early in the morning. However, I had never been to a naturist event. I did not regard myself as particularly bashful, changing in the communal areas of the council pool was a non-issue, but somehow the idea of going somewhere to spend time with a bunch of naked strangers seemed odd. These were the thoughts running through my mind as I sat in my car outside the Oasis pool in Bedford one Saturday evening. It would be easy to simply drive back home, but I felt sure that the next day I'd be kicking myself. I gritted my teeth, got out of the car and joined the queue waiting for the pool to open.
The first thing that struck me was that everyone seemed to know everyone else, all the people in the queue were chatting to the people around them. I started to feel like an outsider; the new kid at school. There’s something very daunting about joining a club full of people who know each other and I’ve never liked being the new guy, a focus of curiosity and attention. Then the guy next to me just started talking about the previous time he'd been to the swim, apparently this was only his second naturist swim and he'd been eagerly anticipating it for the whole of the intervening month. Suddenly the penny dropped; it was not that they were all old friends, they were simply a very friendly bunch of people.
I handed my money over and my new friend immediately took me on a tour of the facilities to show me where everything was. This was the strangest part of the evening; being shown around while fully dressed when everyone else was naked made me feel very out of place, as if all eyes were on the new guy. In retrospect I don't think anyone paid any attention to me at all, it was just me feeling self-conscious.
I placed my clothes in a locker then, after taking a deep breath, walked to the pool and hopped in. I initially joined the lazy river so that I could drift around while I got my bearings. I had skinny dipped in the sea, and occasionally in rivers, but swimming naked just feels so right that it always takes me by surprise. After a few minutes I'd almost forgotten that I was naked and had completely stopped noticing that other people had no costumes.
The evening was apparently three hours long (my watch seemed to agree with this), but it seemed to be over almost instantly. By the time I'd tried both the flumes a couple of times, well I had to be sure that they really were that much fun, and then used the spa pools, sauna, steam room, had a play in the waves and made about twenty new friends, it became obvious that three hours was simply not long enough.
I left at the end of the evening determined to get back as often as possible. I really can't remember an evening I've enjoyed so much and unlike any other club or group I've joined I did not find myself feeling like an outsider at any time. If you are hesitant about attending a naturist event, bite the bullet and try it, the only regret you'll have is not having done it sooner...
A complete attitude change
By A forum member (Posted 15th august 2010).
Until recently, I was a very different person.
Driven by work mainly, rushing from one place to another to get things done. My weeks spent working all hours, getting home in a knackered state and then being worried by the amount of things I had to do in the house. I constantly felt like I was on the back foot in a race against time.
Weekends were a race to do all the things in my personal life that I never had time to do during the week. DIY - constantly fixing stuff that had broken or worn out, sorting out problems with the cars, everything was a mad rush and everything I looked at, all I saw was the amount of money it was going to cost me to put right. On and off I suffered with depression and there was always some big worry that was all consuming.
Having to have the latest technology and gadgets to "treat myself" for the frantic lifestyle I had.
Married for 15 years, some highs and some big low's in our relationship. Seemed like harder and harder work to keep it on an even keel.
This morning, I sit here at my PC, looking out into my garden. The birds are singing and bathing in the pond. A squirrel is nicking nuts from the bird feeder in the Eucalyptus tree at the end of our garden. The sun is bathing our patio in mottled sunshine through the trees.
My utterly beautiful wife is asleep in bed. I can't begin to tell you how much I love her.
Life is good.
My boys have commented on how "chilled out" their dad has been since he came back off holiday. At work, they are asking if I've been smoking wacky baccy LOL.
What's changed?
My first experience of Naturism in the sunshine for a week in southern France a few weeks ago.
I still have the same job but hey, it's only a job. I still have the same amount of work to do around the house but this morning I'm quite looking forward to "pottering around" doing it. Technology and gadgets? Pah, I have what I need. I still have the same amount of stuff to do, the same amount of money (or lack of it), the same problems. Only they are not problems any more, merely hiccups.
Hi, I'm 'Name removed' and I'm happy.
(And I honestly can't remember how long it's been since I last thought like that).
Thank you all for contributing to my road to a better life.
My First Time
By AndyFrank
It all probably began with a chance remark around the table during a mid morning coffee break, I say probably, but it may have been the lunch break or even the afternoon break. Does it matter when it was? Probably not. Does the year matter? Again, probably not. What was of importance was the remark.
One of my colleagues had said that he'd swum nude and how good the sense of freedom was. I thought nothing more about it and assumed that it was something done abroad but not round here. However a seed had been sown. A good couple of years back, I was approaching a significant birthday. The big five-oh, and I was thinking about what I should do before I was 50. In my mental list was the idea of trying nude swimming. But where to try it? Living and working in the city may have advantages, but nude recreation is not one of them. I looked on the internet and found that one site listed possibilities not far from me; it would take longer to drive through my city than to drive from the outskirts to the venue. There was a contact phone number. After much deliberation I picked up the phone, dialled the number and spoke to a lady who informed me that although the sauna sessions were still happening, the swims were no longer held. Bother. And so my naturism was put on the back burner. Until 2006.
I checked on the internet and found other sites which were more helpful. I belong to other forums (fora?) and in August 2006 a strange event happened: suddenly it seemed that naturism was the hot topic on Forum A. I'd been in contact with another would-be naturist swimmer on another forum and reported the news from Forum A which said there was a swim taking place not far away. We decided to give it a go, however I had concerns. It was reasonably local (about an hour's steady if hesitant driving), but it was being recommended by one of the members (not one of the organisers). I decided that I needed to contact the organiser and get his permission to attend, rather than relying on the word of someone I'd not met. I made contact by email and received a positive response. (One bit of advice I'll put in here, is for any newcomer to find out what coins are needed for the lockers. For various reasons I was unable to make it to any of the autumn swims, but there was an opportunity at last , at the end of January. ) It was to be held in a leisure centre a cautious hour's drive from where I worked (I work Saturdays). It was due to start at seven o'clock. This allowed me plenty of time to get there and to get some petrol and something to eat on the way. Ideal. And also plenty of time to worry about the event itself. Fortunately a late customer delayed me to the extent that it was closer to six when I set off.
I did some necessary shopping and followed the road southwards. I was still apprehensive about the event. As I drove onward, I kept changing channels on the car radio, but nothing seemed suitable. I felt hot and turned the heating off in the car, At one point I glanced at a signpost; twelve miles to go and about 48 minutes to do them. It's not easy to slow down to that extent so I arrived in the town with plenty of time to spare. I soon reached the leisure centre and parked in the car park. I had plenty of time to eat my sandwich, but strangely enough, I wasn't hungry at all. I joined the few people waiting in the foyer. I was still feeling nervous. Around seven o'clock someone came and said a few words requesting that we paid with the right money The doors were opened and a steady stream of people flowed through handing over their money. I was standing for a few minutes with my hand holding on to my passport as proof of identity. It wasn't needed as I paid my money and joined the flow. As we walked along, I gained my first view of the complex. To the right was the competition pool (six 25 metre lanes), to the left the leisure pool complex. We were dressed for the January outdoors and here the heat from below made us realise that we were overdressed. We walked along and down a spiral staircase to the changing areas. There were separate cubicles to divide the sexes, as well as team changing rooms, but most people found a locker and started to change in front of it.
When in Rome … So this was it. No half measures, no grey areas, it was all or nothing. I started to undress along with everyone else. Everyone was too preoccupied with getting their own clothes off to pay any attention to a nervous newcomer. After putting my clothes in the locker and locking it, my thoughts were occupied struggling with the buckle on the wrist strap. I finally managed to fasten it. More importantly I realised that I was wearing the same cloak of invisibility as everyone else. There was nothing unusual, it just felt natural. My next step was one that marked me out as a newcomer. Fortunately one of the lifeguards stopped me going through the wrong door and directed me towards the pool. I walked through to the laned pool and climbed down the steps at the shallow end. Boy did it feel good! I started swimming to the other end enjoying the sense of freedom. Reaching the other end unclothed was memorable in itself and I stood to take a breather and to take stock of the situation. A bad move as I immediately realised that I was quite literally out of my depth as my foot reached for the too distant floor. My second length was accompanied by a few coughs. There were a lot of regulars at the swim, so I learned. Some of these had also made hour-long journeys. I would say that the age range of the people seemed predominantly over 40 (and a fair number of retirement age). There were a few young couples, but not many, and a few families as well. (I can only report my impressions and experiences - but it seemed that the age range was not disimilar to that of the coaching holidaymakers. Maybe this is an opportunity for a travel company!?) I tried all the facilities (including the 3 flumes - an adventure in itself as one proved trickier that the others to negociate and I was becalmed in a raging torrent!) and enjoyed myself. Nudity seemed so commonplace that the sight of someone wrapped in a towel was enough to merit a second glance. There also seemed to be a lack of flotation devices - it looked as though everyone there including the children could swim. Strangely enough, the lifeguards in their uniforms didn't seem extraordinary. I would say that there were two uniforms worn - that of the lifeguards and the naturist uniform. I was able to talk with the lifeguards without any feeling of awkwardness at being unclothed. At some point during the evening I decided to take advantage of the refreshment facilities and returned to the locker for some cash. During the break, I spoke with some of the members and found them to be a friendly bunch. I decided I would be returning for the next session.
So, that's my story; since that first time, I've been to further swims, both there and at a place nearby. I've also been swimming textiled and the advantages of not having a wet costume clinging to the body is evident. (It's also easier to prepare for a nuddie swim by just picking up a towel without turning the bathroom cupboard upside down looking for swimming trunks - not to mention the textiled disadvantage of having to repeat the mantra of "Remember to put them on!") It may sound hackneyed, but to anyone who is thinking about trying nude swimming, if you find out where it is happening, go along and give it a try once as a guest. Don't be put off by the thought that all these strangers can be looking at your bits. They won't be! As for the perennial question, "But what if I see someone I know?" Well, you'll have someone to talk to if you want to. If you don't enjoy it, you've wasted an evening, but you will be in a position to form an opinion. Remain an outsider and you'll be judging from prejudice not experience. And if you do enjoy it, just think of all those wasted textile years!
My Misfortune
By col
I have had the misfortune, as I now see it. of being a textile for nearly sixty years, but hearing an appeal on the local radio for new members to join a swim club, thought Why not? I searched the net, found the site and contacted the Secretary to arrange a trial. My heart was pumping as I approached the pool, where I noticed the patrons were entering before the time specified, so I went in immediately. Everyone coming in after me obviously already knew each other, but somehow I felt included in the greetings and banter as people paid and wandered off to change. I produced my paperwork, paid and nervously made my way to the gents changing rooms and started to disrobe. A surprise as I was leaving the room, two ladies were in there with me! They took no notice of my nudity, just a friendly greeting as they passed me, so by the time I reached the poolside, I found all my nervousness had gone. I had relaxed, and commenced my first swim for thirty years, the best ever to date, (with no soggy costume). Subsequent swims have been even better, so thank you to June and Norman at Soleil, for getting me started.