Naturism

I really like being outside.  I'm a bit of a naturist, in every sense of the word.  On many weekends in the summer, my wife and I make the drive over to Gunnison Beach, the only official free beach on the Jersey Shore.  We started going there two summers ago.

My general opinion of beaches is not particularly positive.  I really hate sand.  Beaches tend to be places where people strut around like peacocks, and make it a meat market.  I actually have a pretty good body and am in shape, but I don't like superficial people.  (Same issue I have going to gyms, for that matter) There's also the fact that I really hate sand.  I'm fairer complected, so it takes a lot of sunblock for me to not turn red.  Also, having grown up in the middle of the country, I'm still wary of salt water.  And, did I mention that I really hate sand?

Needless to say, I'm not a beach lover.  Given summer activities, I'd rather hit the Appalachian Trail.  However, I do live in New Jersey, and the shore (pronounced shoe-ah) seems to be the weekend activity of choice here.  So, when in Rome...

Despite my hatred of sand and how it seems to take months to wash it out of every orifice of the body, (and forget about vacuuming it out of the car) there is something different about lying naked in the sun.  It's so freeing.  I love the feeling of having nothing holding me down.  It's amazing to be in a place where hundreds of people are naked, but it's totally normal.  It's actually odd to see someone not in the buff.  I love running naked, I love feeling immersing my body in the sea-water.  Given this kind of freedom, I'll even tolerate the sand.

Having felt this kind of freedom, I really want more.  I would really like to try nude camping and hiking.  There's something very natural about being in the elements in the way that God intended for creatures to be.  I actually find it a bit of a spiritually fulfilling experience, and I want more.

Is it sexual?  Most naturists (nudists) would say no.  There is this taboo subject among naturists mixing sex and nudity.  I understand there's an image to maintain among the naturist community.  They don't want to be associated with the dregs of society.  I get that.  But, is it sexual?  Sure it is.  But, then the question is, isn't sexuality part of the natural order of things too?  Isn't sex a way to connect with that primal part of us too?

Let me be clear about something: I do not go and lie naked in the sun surrounded by naked people for sexual gratification.  I would be still be horrified to get an erection at a nude beach.  I support the idea of keeping predatory people out of naturist areas.  I would hate to see people get hurt, and I certainly do not want to endanger the existence of naturist areas. When I say there's something sexual about it, I think that's intuitive.  We all know there is something sexual, or at least sensual about being naked in a public place.  I would also argue that there's something sexual about gardening and hiking, even with clothes on, because it is all part of nature.  

So, what does all this mean?  Well, I feel a real grounding being in creation as I was created.  I feel there is a connection between nudity, nature, sexuality and spirituality.  Describing it is all a bit complex.  There's something so right about being in a place that God created in a way that God created me.  Perhaps there's a bit of undoing of original sin and longing for the Garden of Eden (allegorically speaking).   So, there are my two cents on naturism.  I love the realness of it, and I cannot wait until summer comes and I can be back out feeling the sun and water on my body with everybody else out on the beach.