10/8/2003: My First Nude Questions (posted on netnude.com)
Several days ago I used a search engine to find ways of increasing my ability to handle 'body things.' I came up with a whole bunch of nudist stuff on the screen and decided to look into it a bit. To put it lightly, this all intrigues me. However, I don't know that I'd ever try it. I can't handle body things very well. I can't even take a bath without panic attacks! (I do shower everyday, however, though I feel very uncomfortable with it.) To me, bodies=sex. And yes, I know that this is wrong. So my question is this: is it possible that I could ever be a nudist? On the one hand I think it would be very healing for me to go to a nude beach and have the experience of being nude without being hurt. On the other hand, I don't know if I'd ever have the courage to try it. I'd be interested to know what you all think. From reading many websites about nudism, I'm so glad that so many children are being raised as nudists so that they don't have the same issues that I'm having. Kudos to all you parents who are giving your children to develop a positive body image!
10/10/2003: Nude Explanations (posted on netnude.com)
I'm uncomfortable with nudity because I feel such shame and guilt- it just seems so wrong. In my head I know it's not, but it certainly feels wrong. Also, there is some definite fear involved. I know that this fear is irrational as a 28 year old because I can defend myself and I'm very safe now, but I still have that fear. Nudism would likely help me to overcome that fear. I think that being with other nudists would help me to gain confidence, too. At this time, a female friend to join in is pretty much out of the question. Almost all of my friends are very conservative Christians and would likely think it wrong to be a nudist (based on things they've said previously.) Beyond that, I think I'd be more comfortable with being nude with strangers than with friends. I don't know why. I am currently working on becoming more comfortable with being nude at home and, to some extent, outside of the home. I'm now able to sleep in a t-shirt and underpants where at one time I couldn't sleep without long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, shoes, and a belt. I'm also becoming more comfortable with changing clothes at that gym (though it's behind a curtain, it took me a long time to get to a place where I was brave enough to change there.) Though slow, progress is being made. Once I'm a little more comfortable with that, even able to sleep nude, I think I want to try to become part of the nudist world. As you said, it sounds like it's worth doing. A clothing optional beach would probably be a good idea: I'd have a chance to get comfortable with others being naked and I'd be able to do the same in my own timing. When the time comes, I'll be asking if anyone knows of any clothing optional beaches near Philadelphia (probably on the New Jersey shore.) I really liked your idea of a clothing-optional swim night. Where would I find out where such an event will be held and how to become involved? I love to swim and I'd feel at least partially covered it I'm in the water. If you have any ideas let me know. Again, thank you so much for your thoughtful and helpful response. I appreciate your wisdom and advice.
10/11/2003: Planning the Big Event (posted on NetNude.com)
There is a nude swim in Northern NJ on November 1. This will be my first experience with social nudity (YIKES!) and I'm wondering if anybody from these boards will be there or if anyone here has been involved with the Tri-State Sun Club in any way. Yes, I'm taking a big leap here. But I think it's the right decision. I've still got a zillion and one questions, but overall I've already had so much growth and healing from being a home nudist. I have faith that this wonderful journey will only be enhanced by my jump into social nudism. Thanks so much for all of your encouragement- I'll let you know how it goes.
10/13/2003: So Many Questions (posted on NetNude.com)
I have a whole bunch of questions that I'd like some answers to. I'm not sure where the line is between things that are ok to ask and those that aren't, so please forgive me if I ask things that I shouldn't. Some of the questions may be a bit private, I'm not sure. Anyway, here's my latest set of questions:
1) My feet are always cold at night so I wear socks to bed. Since the rest of me is nude, it seems odd that I can't sleep without my socks. Is this normal?
2) Another sleeping question: When sleeping, my arm sometimes brushes against *private* areas. I know that you aren't supposed to touch yourself in those spots and I am really trying not to do that, but it keeps happening now that those parts are untethered. How long does it take to get your body used to turning over in a different way so as not to touch those parts. I really, REALLY try not to.
3) Regarding *down there*: I read the smoothie board, just because I didn't know what it was, and now I'm wondering what's normal *down there.* Do most people who are nudists shave there or is there a norm? Do I need to *fix* anything before going nude in public?
4) I don't know if this is a body acceptance issue or a comfort issue or what, but for women who are large up top... isn't it more comfortable to be wearing something up there so that you aren't bobbing around? Also, won't you get bigger if there's nothing to hold it all down?
5) Do nudist resorts and such have doors on the bathroom? co-ed bathrooms? outside bathrooms? What should I expect in this realm?
6) Back to the 'up top' issues again.... My understanding is that when women get *excited* they get hard up there, just like a man gets hard *down there.* So wouldn't it be unacceptable for this to happen to a woman in a public place? What do you do if this happens?
OK, I think these are all of my questions for now. I'm sorry if I was crude or whatever, I just have so many questions and I'm so nervous about all of this. I wish I had a woman that I could talk to about it. It's going to take a while before I'm totally comfortable with nudism but I feel like I'm getting there slowly but surely.
Thanks in advance for your help!
11/2/2003: My First Nude Swim (posted on netnude.com)
Well, last night was my first nude swim social. Since so many of you helped me to get to that point, it only seems fair that I share the details.
The drive up was kind of tough- the entire state of NJ is under construction, or so it seemed. There were so many times that I almost turned around came home because I was really scared. So I promised myself that if I went to the event and was nude I could have cheesesteaks for dinner every night this week if I so desired. Cheesesteaks speak to me.
I finally arrived at the swim and nerves set in. But I triumphed and walked in the door. The people at the desk were really nice. I told them it was my first time and they were really warm and helpful. They pointed me towards the locker rooms and off I went. A kind young man was behind me as I walked in and we got to talking. Seeing the men’s room door I told him that his locker room was there. A man passing by noted "This is a nudist event- the locker rooms are co-ed." So the guy went into the women’s locker room with me. There were lots of other men there but I didn’t see any women. Go figure.
The moment of truth had arrived: time to take off my clothes. The guy near me, named Davin, started disrobing like it was the most natural thing in the world. So, with heart beating loudly enough that you probably all heard it, I did likewise. It was soooo weird to be taking off my clothes in front of a guy! I mean, this guy that I had never met was seeing my underwear! But, I did it!
Well, I was nude. And nervous. But I had to keep going. Davin and I went to the pool together and I hopped in. Now THAT was an experience. I was overwhelmed with some kind of body feeling but I wasn’t sure what in the world it was or even if it was good or bad. I just knew it was incredibly POWERFUL. After talking to Cheri today, I can tell you that it was called sensuality and that it was a very good thing!
From the pool we hit the hot tub, had some pizza, and talked to some people. I met a few men who were really WEIRD, but I also met 2 young couples who were incredibly nice. During the evening I also got to play some volleyball, which is VERY fun for me though I’m not too good at it.
You all gave me a lot of advice about what to expect, but there was soooo much that I didn’t expect. First off, I never did forget- even for a minute- that I was nude. Maybe this is just because of my life experiences. Also, I was surprised to see soooo few women there. I mean, I know that there are more male nudists than female, but I was still surprised about the ratio (seemed to be around 10:1 male to female.) This kind of made me uncomfortable. In my ’research’ before going I did look at nude pictures of women, just to know what women were supposed to look like and to see if I looked ’right.’ But I never thought to look for male pictures, so I didn’t really know what men look like without clothes. That, in and of itself, was an experience. Even had I known what men look like, I think the ratio would have scared me a bit just because of who I am and my experiences with men in the past. Not that I’m saying that there should be mandatory gender-balancing at nudist functions, I’m just saying how I felt, ok?
The one big positive of the event was a body-image thing. While there and even now I really feel confident in my body- my body is normal and ok. It helped that I’ve lost 17 pounds since August 1, but seeing other nude women helped me to see that my body is actually decent and normal. This was a HUGE breakthrough for me. And I don’t know that there is any other way that I could have come to this realization.
I had a rough ride home- very tearful and I couldn’t understand why. I still don’t know what’s wrong. It’s been a hard day for me... there are a lot of feelings going on related to the swim and I can’t identify or describe them. I’m hopeful that I’ll be ok again soon.
So... will I go back? I dunno. I never did get to the point of feeling comfortable, but I the sensations of the pool while nude are pretty powerful and invite me back. Maybe there is a club or something that has fewer people so that I can actually get to know people. I didn’t really get to socialize with a lot of people- many people weren’t interested in talking and I was so nervous that my social skills were lacking. But maybe in an atmosphere with fewer people things would be different.
Well, thanks for reading this really LONG post. I just wanted to let you all know how it went.
11/15/2003: The Turnaround (posted on nudistresorts.org)
Well, now you get details of my SECOND nude event! (I promise not to continue to the event-by-event action when I get to my hundredth event LOL) The event was "Saturday Nude at the Movies" with a small group in Southern NJ (around 45 minutes away from me.) I'd been talking to Tom from the group in long e-mails for a week or so before the event and, of course, knew of Cheef Dan beforehand. The event was FABULOUS! It had to be the most healing and moving night of my life. All of the people were wonderful and it was as if we were old friends. The group was very accepting of me and took the time to get to know me as well as offering to let me know them. We had dinner together, enjoyed the hot tub, watched movies, and spent hours talking. Within an hour or so I forgot that I was nude among people I'd just met- I was simply comfortable with friends. Self-consciousness didn't even factor in. I was aware at many times that the people around me were nude, but I got over it quickly. It just wasn't a big deal, you know? They even presented me with a turtle necklace, which everyone in the group has. Receiving the necklace made me feel a part of the group. Simply put, last night I learned what nudism is all about- accepting others, being friendly, having a good time, getting to know one another, and being comfortable. And, of course, not having to loosen your belt after dinner :) I'm still in la-la land at the wonder, beauty, naturalness (yes, I know that's not a word), and sheer joy that I was a part of last night. I'm hooked- My name is Melissa and I'm a nudist for life!
12/13/2003: White Dog Café (posted on cheef.com)
Last night 17 of us got together at the White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia for a wonderful nudist evening of dinner, laughter, sharing, and intellectual conversation. Cheef did a GREAT job in getting the event set up, including bringing coverings for the windows and doors so that our area was private. Everyone who came to the dinner was wonderful- such great conversation, fabulous food, and the freedom from having to loosen our belts after desserts. The highlight of the evening was a delightful discussion of some kind of animal I've never even heard of. Also, it was a wonderful opportunity to re-acquaint myself with old friends and meet new friends. Who knew there were so many wonderful nudist people so close to Philadelphia? Thanks, Cheef, for making the arrangements that allowed me to have a wonderful evening. The night was pure delight.
ps- I'm NOT eating squid: ewww!
12/20/2003: First Trip to Penn Sylvan (posted at cheef.com)
'Twas the Saturday before Christmas and all through the world
Melissa said "to Penn Sylvan we go" and our lovely Cheef heard.
We got in his car and stepped on the gas
because Cheef was driving we got there real fast.
The lady who stood behind the big desk
read us our rights and we did not protest.
"No masturbating with children around" she said
and Melissa held her tongue and nodded her head.
To the hot tub we leapt with a single bound
to find that there weren't many people around.
The hot tub was hot and the pool was quite cool
and Melissa kept thinking "this is better than teaching school."
After many a soak we needed a rest
so we went to the gathering room to relieve some more stress.
Crayons, markers, and paste were there to be used
so Cheef and Melissa colored and schmoozed.
The pictures were pretty and gaily hung for all to see
as the participants returned to the hot tub clothes-free.
The sun soon went down and we sadly had to say
that we'd reached the end of our marvelous day.
So the clothes were replaced and our bodies were covered
and we left with that special feeling of being again smothered.
But I heard Cheef proclaimed as we drove out of sight
"I'll bring you back here, Melissa, on another night."
12/26/2003– 1/1/2004: Nude with my "Adoptive Mom"
During my first nudist days , I met up with a wonderful nudist woman who helped me learn about nudism and life. I happily call her “mom” these days because that’s who she is to me. On December 26th, I flew down to South Carolina to spend a week with mom and her husband. What a wonderful week! It was wonderful to be in such a warm and loving environment where I was accepted for who I was– with all my problems and without my clothes. If you’ve read “My Story,” you know I never had kind words spoken to me or safe affection from my biological family. My new nudist family is so different though. The best part of the trip– by far!- was falling asleep and resting with my head on mom’s lap. Of course, I loved climbing her backyard trees nude, swimming in the hot tub (I’ve never been good at sitting still– if there’s water, I swim!,) playing with my dinner without getting in trouble, learning the joys of strawberry daiquiris, speaking Spanish at the grocery store, visiting a friend in the hospital, giggling through synagogue, playing in the closet, snuggling with the kitties, meeting Kevin from NRO, touring beautiful Columbia, meeting the Travelites gang, learning firsthand that seafood is yucky, and just about every other adventure you could imagine! I have a loving family now, and there is nothing better I could ever have!
1/2/2004: My First Nudist Setback
Tonight I had a nudist man visit me at my home. We had a great night au natural, eating ice cream and talking about everything under the sun. At one point during the night, though, he got a very obvious erection and that terrified me. Though he made it clear that he would NOT hurt me, seeing his erection frightened me
1/3/2004: My Second Nude Swim
Cheef, his wife Judy, and I drove up to Paramus together to attend my second nude swim. I was surprised to be warmly greeted by people that I had met last time– I don’t even remember all their names but they all greeted me by name and were happy I had returned! Have I mentioned that nudists are some of the most kind and loving people I’ve ever met? I spent much of the night in the hot tub talking with old and new friends, including Tom and Marilyn who head up The Naked Truth Naturists. Davin from my first nude swim had returned and I was sad to only have a few minutes to talk with him between all of the other goings-on. Though I didn’t get to talk to her much, I got to meet Susan from Netnude… I’d like to get to know her better if ever there is the time!!!! The evening passed too quickly and we were soon on our way home again. Beyond the actual swim, I truly enjoyed getting to know Cheef and Judy better on the ride up and back. Anyone who has never met Judy NEEDS to meet her– she is one of the sweetest and kindest people in the world.
On a side note, last night’s setback has caused me to fear nudity once again. I’m not able to be nude at home without significant panic attacks and I’ve had troubles sleeping nude.
1/3/2004- 1/11/2004: Recovering from my Setback
It’s been a long week and things have been pretty bad. Nudity at home has been almost non-existent because I’m just too scared. On the 10th and 11th I decided to try bribing myself to be nude again. It’s starting to work and things seem to be going back to my nudist normal. I’m angry that such a little thing as an erection could cause so much trouble, though I’m thankful that I seem to be getting past it and am beginning to thrive again.
1/17/2004: My First Nudist Website
Barely Melissa, my first nudist website, went online for the world to see. I’m hopeful that others like me will read my pages and find the courage to try nudism for themselves. Special thanks to Cheef for hosting me and to Jan from Netnude for working hard to find all my old posts. I’m blessed to have so many wonderful natural friends!
1/24/2004: My First Bare Buns Visit
Some nudist clubs are good, some are great. Then there’s Bare Buns. WOW!!!! Do they make a word to describe Bare Buns? After a 3 hour drive down I met members and new people at a lovely dinner for a “Meet and Greet” session. The people were all fun and the conversation was stimulating. From there we went to the recreation center for a new person orientation. Why didn’t I go to Bare Buns for my first nude event? I could have used that orientation when I was a beginning nudist!!! The session was informational and helpful. It even came with a movie, “Welcome to our World” which Mark (an online friend who met me there– INCREDIBLE guy!!!) and I had already seen… so we talked through the movie. Once that was over we were led to the locker rooms by member of the welcoming committee to get down to business. The night passed quickly– too quickly– as we went from pool to hot tub to pool volleyball to birthday cake to dominoes games (I’m still convinced Anne was cheating somehow!) to talking to hot tub and all around. There were so many activities that we never got bored and we didn't get to do anywhere close to all we wanted to. There was a country line dancing class I wanted to take and volleyball to play, but time ran out quickly. Every person I met was extremely kind and within minutes it’s like we were all family. Most places you go in this world includes at least one person who is weird, strange, impersonal, or annoying. Yet none of those people were at the event. One way that Bare Buns helps people to feel like family is providing nametags (waterproof, on a string around the neck… stickers wouldn’t work LOL) so that we can all get to know one another. Though everyone was similar in that they were all wonderfully kind, there was a large diversity in age, religion, race, marital status, and body type. The gender ratio was wonderful, too, as there wasn’t an overabundance of either males or females.
I hadn’t seen any children at nudist events before this one– this brought me to a place of a lot of soul searching and finding resolution to some of my questions. When I first went to the restaurant there was a little girl, 10 years of age, in attendance. It hit me quickly that there would be children at this event. This thought was confirmed when Gary, the head of Bare Buns, spoke to her and told her one of her same-age friends would also be there but some of the other children she was friends with wouldn't be due to the family’s celebration of the Chinese New Year. I later found out that there were at least eleven children in attendance, both boys and girls. This had a strange effect on me. First, I was scared. When I was a child being nude meant I was going to be sexually assaulted. I didn’t want to see that happen to this little girl! So I kept my eye out for her a bit when we first got there, though I tried not to make it obvious. Quickly, though, I saw the truth: this child was in the most safe environment in the world! Every single person there, it seemed, would have killed anybody who tried to do anything untoward with the kids. Many people joked with the girls as if the girls were their own children, nieces, or grandchildren. By the end of the night I was envious of these little girls as they obviously accepted their own and others’ bodies, they had great self-confidence, and they were loved by a huge family. Bare Buns proved to me that nudism IS a family-friendly venture and that’s it’s the best environment to raise a child in. If I ever have children, they WILL be raised nudist as there is no better way to be raised.
2/1/2004: TNTN Superbowl Party
A group of fifteen or so met at a member’s home in South Jersey for a wonderful evening of talking, watching the Superbowl, and swimming in the hot tub. As always, the potluck foods were plentiful and the discussion was jovial. Within a few minutes I forgot that I was nude and I simply enjoyed the pleasure of being around good friends. Tom was kind to share his naturist photo album with me, Mark and I had a foot war, Jeanne shared her Staples stories, Sandy gave us all relationship advice, Debbie fought a knife with her foot and became holier, and Cheef kept our conversation kosher. As seems to be the TNTN way, it was a wonderful day that we hope to repeat in the near future.
2/7/2004 Penn Sylvan
It's been a disastrous week and everything that could go wrong has. And then some. So a trip to Penn Sylvan was definitely in order to help me de-stress. The hot tub and pool were calling me! Instead of relaxation, however, I found an exciting game of Wally ball and a LOT of visitors to the resort. But I was not upset- I've never played Wally ball before and I quickly discovered this to be a wonderfully fun game. Sure, it helped that my team won 2 out of 3 games by a landslide victory. But let's face it- a beach volleyball game played nude in a 4 foot pool is downright fun! Maybe that relaxing day I had planned will come about in a few weeks. Or maybe I'll just keep playing Wally ball.
2/14/2004 Penn Sylvan
A wonderful group of people came to Penn Sylvan to enjoy a potluck dinner. Among the crowd were many friends, including Cheef and Judy, Chuck and Jeanne (and their daughter Taylor), and Bill and Diane. It was so good to share a meal with such close friends!!! Increasingly, I'm realizing that my fellow nudists are my family. They are here for me, love me, and help me in any way they can. It's a joy to be among them.
3/20/2004 TNTN Erin Go Braughless Party
Around 15 people got together at a home in southern NJ to celebrate St. Patrick's Day au natural. Though I was pretty tired that day, I enjoyed watching naturist videos, talking with friends, eating yummy food, and soaking in the hot tub. A lot of my attention, admittedly, was focused on Mark, a very close friend from Maryland who I'm enjoying getting to know. Tom was up to his usual antics, Taylor (age 2) was bursting with energy, Cheef was intent on beating his hot tub record, and Ian and Debbie were the perfect hosts. Suffice it to say, it was a wonderful afternoon.
5/15/2004 First Trip to a Nude Beach
The sky was blue, the temperature was perfect, the wind was light... time to go to the beach! The 2 hour drive to Gunnison Beach at Sandy Hook, NJ, was long as I emotionally prepared myself for my first nude beach trip. I'd heard both the good and the bad about the beach, which caused me to be both excited and trepidatious about the trip. Upon my arrival at 11:00 I was surprised that I was able to get a parking spot close to the walkway. I'd heard this was near impossible, especially if you didn't come first thing in the morning. So I took it as a sign that God was on my side. :) I then grabbed all of my beach supplies, including my blanket, a towel, a backback with sunscreen and other supplies, and cooler (my new diet is doing wonders for me in every way, so I have to have the right foods with me so I make good choices.) I set off for what I'd heard was a long walk to the beach. It turned out to be not long, after all. Getting on the beach itself was wonderful. The sand was perfect, the people were friendly, and finally taking off my clothes was a relief. Looking at the 'You may encounter nude sunbathers beyond this point" sign made me feel like a real nudist. Anyway, I set up my blanket, had some water, put on vast amounts of sunscreen, and grabbed a book to spend the day with. "It doesn't get more perfect than this," I thought. And I was right. Not too hot, not too cold, well-stocked with plenty of fruits and veges, bottles of water at hand, an excellent book (Harlan Coben was the author, if you care to know), little children gleefully playing in the sand, an adolescent girl playing ball with her father, and lots of people around me also enjoying a relaxing day at the beach.... is this what Heaven's like? If so, please kill me now! The day passed by quickly with only one weird incident: a man who appeared to have a camera phone with him. He was removed from my area shortly upon arrival. So my first trip to the nude beach was a success. The only problem? SUNBURN!!! Even after I applied layer after layer of sunscreen there were areas of my body that had the same beautiful red as a strawberry. Luckily, I like strawberries. :)
5/16/2004 Telling My Sister
My sister called me tonight and we were conversing about her pregnancy and the upcoming (August) birth of her baby. At one point during the conversation I said "Ow!" and told my sister I had a sunburn all over my body from being at the beach the day before. She replied, "Well, you were wearing a bathing suit weren't you?" To which I truthfully replied, "No." She then went on to ask, "What? You were wearing shorts and a t-shirt?" Again, I answered, "No." At that point I think she caught on to what I was telling her: "Were you at a NUDE BEACH or something????" I finally responded in the affirmative. My sister was astonished and quickly called her partner (my sister is a homosexual) telling her, "My little sister Libby went to a NUDE BEACH!!! Can you believe it????" They were both completely astonished, but not in a bad way. My sister went on to tell me that I was the last person in the world she would have thought would go to a nude beach. They'd been to one- not nude, of course- when they were scuba diving a few years back. As the conversation continued I told my sister that I am, in fact, a card-carrying nudist and I enjoy nudist parties and resorts. At this point my sister was no longer surprised at anything I would tell her, though, so she took it with a grain of salt. I asked my sister what mom would think if she knew. (At this time mom is being a very devoted Catholic, attending a few services a week, being a eucharistic minister, and cleaning the church.) Her response was that mom has enough real things to worry about and that this wouldn't phase her in the slighest. She reminded me that she was gay and pregnant (sperm donor), my other sister is going through a separation with her adulterous husband, mom has plenty of financial and personal worries right now, etc..... I'm the only one in the family without anything major going on right now. So I told my sister about nudism and it wasn't bad at all! Certainly more entertaining than bad!
5/22/2004 Outdoors at Penn Sylvan
A day at Penn Sylvan was much needed after returning to work for a week. Thankfully, the weather was perfect for a day outside. When I pulled up to the front gate I found Judy, Cheef's wife, in the car next to me. What a wonderful surprise!!! She and Cheef had decided to come out for the day for a little relaxation, too. When I entered I quickly encountered Bill and Diane at the indoor pool (the outdoor pool wasn't open quite yet.) God was working overtime to pull some of my favorite nudist friends together on this day! The day was spent sunning, talking, swimming, hot-tubbing, and just enjoying being alive. I was amazed at how quickly I relaxed after a week in 'war-zone' aka a public middle school in Philadelphia. Penn Syvlvan was just what the doctor ordered! After being there for a few hours we all decided to have dinner at Shady Maple, the finest restaurant ever created. Thank you, Lord, for a perfect day of sunshine, wonderful friends, and excellent food! (For those of you keeping an eye on me, the food was good but well within my diet plan... LA Weight Loss was very proud of me when I weighed in shortly thereafter.)
6/11/2004- 6/13/2004 Christian Naturist Conference at White Tail Park
What a weekend! This was my first visit to White Tail Park and I was QUITE impressed! So let me first tell you about the park before I tell you about the conference. Walking into the office for the first time I was greeted with smiling faces and genuine welcome. The check-in process was thorough but quick and I even received a handy map so I'd know where I was going. The receptionist kindly pointed out my camping site and showed me how to get there. My site was close to EVERYTHING important (ie. the pool and the conference headquarters) and my neighbors were friendly as I set up camp. Shortly thereafter I visited the outdoor pool (I guess you could call it the 'old' outdoor pool, since the new one has opened since my visit.) The water was refreshing, everyone around the pool was friendly, and I was the only one actually in the pool. So I committed to swim 100 laps a day, which I easily achieved. The pool was very well-kept, clean as could be, and there was a convenient and CLEAN shower/ bathroom area nearby. That pool was certainly my favorite part of the park. Throughout the weekend I visited the rest of the grounds, including an indoor pool, a social hall, an auditorium, hot tub, and various outdoor facilities. I found the entire park to be extremely well-kept and friendly. Several families were visiting over the weekend and I couldn't imagine a more wholesome and comfortable environment for families! I think White Tail Park is my favorite nudist venue to date.
The conference itself was fabulous- plenty of content, but also plenty of free-time. There was a lot of emphasis on getting to know one another, which helped us all to quickly become friends. Though I knew some of the people before attending, it was nice to meet other nudist Christians. The speakers grabbed my attention and made me think... not such an easy task! There was even a photo session which taught us a bit about cameras and took us for a field trip to a clearing in the woods for some photography (White Tail does NOT permit photography anywhere in the park for the safety of its members, so don't try this without permission!) I found out that I truly enjoy modeling, especially when it involves climbing and getting muddy. On Sunday morning there was an interdenomination service that was really touching because it was apparent I was among REAL Christians- not people who show up because they have to, but because they have a burning desire to serve the Lord. I don't think I've ever been in a church that was so excited for God and so full of non-hypocrites!
Overall, I loved the conference and I can hardly wait to go again next year. The weather was perfect- sunny during the day and heavy showers at night (which I LOVE when I'm camping! And NO, I'm not being sarcastic)- and my only complaint was the sunburn I got from living in the wonderful outdoor pool all weekend. When can I go back?
7/11/2004 Pool Party at Inspector Joe's House
A beautiful sunny Sunday brought me to the utopian home of Inspector Joe (from NetNude) and his wife Rita for an outdoor pool/ hot tub party and barbeque. Though I'd never met any of the guests before the party- even Joe and Rita in person- I felt comfortable and part of the group. The day was filled with laughter, water volleyball games, excellent food (Rita can COOK- talk about the gift of hospitality!!!), fun conversations, and relaxation. Joe and Rita have a perfect nudist home: completely private backyard filled with a pool and hot tub. I was ready to move in! The highlight of the day was Joe getting dressed so he could climb on top of the roof of the house to take a picture of the events- how often does THAT happen in your lifetime? You'll should see us featured on upcoming major publications... we're beautiful, carefree, and fun! I hope I get invited to another gathering at Joe and Rita's soon!
7/31/2004 Planning Meeting at Penn Sylvan: Phi Nu is Born!
Cheef and I got together at Penn Sylvan to discuss the opening of our new nudist club. A year ago, I would never have believed that I'd be the owner of a nudist club- or that I'd even be a nudist! Anyway, after talking for around 2 or 3 hours we came up with a name, Philly Nudists (Phi Nu for short) and plans on making this club work. We were happy to meet Leo and Sandy, who are also in our area, during the meeting! Immediately after the meeting we were blessed to meet up with Bill and Diane, old friends who we enjoy talking with. The rest of the afternoon went quickly in their company. Too quickly... I didn't want to leave. But even the best things in life- good friends, relaxing hot tubs, and stress-free days- must come to an end.
6/3/2005 Just a Quick Update
Things have been going smoothly in many ways since I last updated the site. Phi Nu is growing beyond my wildest dreams and I'm meeting new and friendly nudists at every event. If I haven't mentioned it already, nudists are some of the most wonderful people around. I've spent many weekend days at Penn Sylvan and I've now told both my sisters and my mom about my nudist lifestyle. Nobody went into shock, no hospital visits, and no deaths resulted from the telling. My sister Jenn was pretty amused by the whole thing and was surprised that I, the conservating Bible-thumping member of the family, would be a nudist. The only down side to life lately is my health. I've been admitted to the hospital 4 times in 2005 so far with problems that may be related to my recently diagnosed thyroid disorder. This has been hard for me to deal with as I've lost a lot of time at work because of the condition, but there has been no choice in the matter. When it's life or death, sickness or health, I have to go to the hospital. I just got out today (again) and I'm hoping to go back to work on Tuesday to finish the last 7 days of the school year. Wish me luck!
