Conference moira::naturism

    1)Are there any groups out there that are better for beginners?
    I would really like to join a group and get to know people as opposed
    to walking into a huge resort not knowing anyone.   Also, a little
    coaching on what is/is not acceptable behavoir would greatly help.

Since you work in N.H., maybe you could get together with other that are in
N.H. and/or MA.  If it isn't too long a trip, check out the next Moonstone
Beach trip.  Contact Ben Wong (CADSE::WONG) for trip info.

    2) HOw do you get your spouse involved?  

My husband and my first times out were by ourselves, camping [before we
were married! ;-)  ].  If you both are at ease with walking around your home
nude together, you could just bring it up in a conversation.  Just an idea.
Not sure what to recommend if you have a spouse that doesn't like to have
you see them nude, even in subdued light...

    3)I hear of clothes-optional places.  Can anyone recommend places
    to me that are good?

I can only recommend places in Colorado.  Coming out this way anytime?

    4)Where do you enjoy going?  What do you do there that is fun?

We go to Valley View (see the resorts note) and do mostly hiking and soaking
in the hot (warm) springs or swim in the swimming pool or sun.

    5)What is the best way to get started based on your experience?
   
Just do it.  You'll forget about being embarressed (if you are) as you 
discover others are comfortable with nudity.

Judy

>>>    1)Are there any groups out there that are better for beginners?
    
    	?
    
>>>    I would really like to join a group and get to know people as opposed
>>>    to walking into a huge resort not knowing anyone.   Also, a little
>>>    coaching on what is/is not acceptable behavoir would greatly help.
    
    	One of the nice things about our first Moonstone trip is that we
    	met nice people and got to talk alot.  Imagine alot of naked
    	people standing around on a beach, talking about VMS...:-)
    
    	As for acceptable behavoir, just think about enjoying yourself
    	and trying not to offend or upset others.  That leaves alot of
    	freedom to enjoy naturism.
    
        Going to a resort is not so bad.  There's a good chance that you
    	won't have to worry about meeting someone you know so you can
    	relax on your first outing.  Also, people at resorts are fairly
    	friendly and will help first-timers feel more comfortable about
    	their experience with naturism.
    
>>>    3)I hear of clothes-optional places.  Can anyone recommend places
>>>    to me that are good?
    
    	Moonstone Beach and/or Solair near Sturbridge, MA.
    
>>>    4)Where do you enjoy going?  What do you do there that is fun?
    
    	Moonstone is nice...just like a regular beach.  I do things that I
    	would at a normal textile beach, like sleep, read, take long
        walks, etc...
    
>>>    5)What is the best way to get started based on your experience?
    
    	Talk to the people in this notesfile to find more information.
    	There are alot of "veterans" here and they can tell you alot.
    
    B.
    	

    	My S/O and I went to Moonstone for her first experience in public
    nude sunbathing. Although the sunning was extremely enjoyable the
    voyeurs were not. There was a majority of single men over couples
    and single women. Although single men are not necessarily bad,
    the experience at Moonstone was not pleasant in that the majority
    of single men were gawking at the women on the beach. In addition,
    there is a substantial traffic along the beach of clothed people,
    some of whom are also just looking.
    
    	If you are in NH I would recommend Cedar Waters in NH. It's
    just east of the Portsmouth area off of route 125. See note 12.16
    for further information and the phone number. This is a couples
    and/or family only camp. It consists of a small lake completely
    surrounded by woods that are used by members for cabins, homes,
    or camping. The area around the edge of the lake is nude only so
    that there is no problem with people just looking.
    
    	The people there are very nice, yet if you are shy and wish
    to be left alone no one will bother you or cause you embarrassment.
    The best way to approach your spouse is to talk about it up front
    with no hidden meanings. The other nice thing about Cedar Waters
    is that it is smaller than Moonstone for a first visit. Typically
    less than a hundred people (sometimes even less), whereas, Moonstone
    can have hundreds of people. 
    
    	At first we were concerned about a resort as opposed to a beach,
    but with some input from Neil we made the plunge to go to Cedar
    Waters and are very pleased that we did. We have no plans to return
    to Moonstone, Cedar Waters is just too nice, relaxing, and pleasant.
    I'm sure that Neil can give you additional insights if you contact
    him. Good Luck.                      
    
    			Dave....

    I agree with Dave (.3) to an extent about Moonstone...  sometimes
    there are quite a few "gawkers" there and I think it may be a bit
    uncomfortable for a first-timer, but then again, you never know.
    I went there my first time and I had no discomfort at all.  It was
    a weekday and I was with a good friend.  I think basically all you
    have to do is just go for it.  As for how to behave...  well, I
    think that's a question you can answer for yourself.  Just be yourself.
    Any type of behavior that's not acceptable at a textile beach would
    probably be the same at a C/O beach...  with the exception, of course,
    being nudity. :-)
    
    Go, relax, and have a good time.
    
    - K
    

Without wanting to discourage fresh discussion, I'll suggest that you will
find answers to a lot of your questions by browsing back through this 
conference (and especially the earlier notes).  In particular, there 
several discussions on etiquette (including one note which reproduced
the naturist "Free Beach Etiquette"), on spouses (although the emphasis
has generally been on what to do if your spouse isn't interested, rather 
than on how to introduce the idea), and on things to do.

DIR/ALL/KEY=RESORTS will provide a list of notes about nudist camps, and 
DIR/ALL/KEY=SITES will provide a list of notes about clothing-optional 
beaches.  DIR/ALL/KEY=ORGANIZATIONS will give you a list of notes about 
nudist/naturist organizations, including NENA, the New England Naturist 
Association.

	-Neil Faiman, moderator

    One more suggestion.  Sailing is a great way to get started with social
    nudity.  There are not too many people on the boat so you get to know
    them quickly, a surprising number of other boaters are at least topless 
    if not nude, the sun is good(read-intense) and you're on the move, so 
    gawkers are not a problem.  I have a daysailer and spend two or three 
    saturdays per summer month on Buzzard's Bay.  I sail nude as soon as I'm 
    away from the population, to be sure no one will be offended.
    	The rules/behavior, as previously stated, are the same as at textile
    activities, except that in the nude, everything seems more vibrant and
    exciting, especially sailing.
    	If any one is interested in a two or three person nude day sail on
    Buzzard's Bay(from Onset Beach), please feel free to contact me(by
    phone at DTN 276-8453).  I usually bring along a small lunch and spend 
    the day till about 4pm.
    	Happy Sailing-Gary	

What kind of boat do you sail?  Pre-graduation I'd been on 
a Sunfish and a catamaran and both times it was hard work (the 
second time I was co-captain).  I can imagine it'd be fun. 
Water spraying, balancing a fast boat, relaxing in the middle of a 
lake...  brings back those childhood days.

     How about skinny dipping?? I had access to my neighbors pool for
    a week while they were on vacation. The wife and I had several informal
    parties with singles and couples. On these hot summer nights, when
    the suggestion of skinny dipping came up everyone thought it was
    a great idea. After the swim and everyone is standing around talking,
    the last thing anyone wanted to do was to put clothes back on. We
    all ended back at the house sans clothing and had a relaxed, fun
    time. Its seems stange that no one felt uncomfortable or even surprised
    at this turn of events, yet I would have no idea how this could
    come about without the swim first. It made the transition from clothed
    to nude seem so natural. Give it a try

    
    Getting started isn't easy. A few years back a couple of friends
    and I took our girlfriends for a weeks vacation on Martha's Vineyard.
    Well needless to say we ended up on Gay Head and was at first very
    uncomfortable especially never having done it before. We actually
    felt out of place with our clothes on. Needless to say we joined
    them after a short time. It was amazing, in no time it felt like
    we were at a regular beach and no one bothered us. I haven't had
    the chance again except once in the caribbean where it's socially
    accepted. 
    
    

It took me over 10 years to "get started", but then I have been known
to procrastinate. I had the opportunity to go with a group of people
(from this conference) the first time, but decided to go "solo" just
to see if I was going to like it as much as I thought I would. As mentioned
previously I loved it. I still, after 3 or 4 of trips to the Ledges am
a bit uncomfortable carrying on conversations with folks (even with a
couple of people I've met from this conference) although I've always been
that way with or without clothes. I love the experience, and I know I'll
become more comfortable as time goes on (hopefully we won't run out of
summer before that happens).

I've found the feeling of complete freedom while nude is a feeling that
can't be equalled by any other experience, and the stresses and strains
of the workaday world seem to disappear during that time.

As the previous reply stated the feeling of being out of place with clothes
on hits one rather quickly, which is something my textile beach friends
can't quite comprehend.



Jim "come on Saturday" Henderson

    I really don't know what "got me started" - probably one night many,
    many years ago after hours with a friend on a hot night at Walden
    Pond in Concord, MA.  Now, of course that's not a C/O beach, but
    it was late in the evening and we were so hot and had no bathing
    suits with us.  It seemed so natural to me to just take everything
    off and not think twice about it after.  I don't think I've ever
    been uncomfortable at a nude beach, either, regardless of who I'm
    with - strangers or acquaintances.  When I went to Moonstone with
    a group from the conference here I felt totally comfortable - in
    spite of the fact that I now look like Orca (7 mos. pregnant!).
    Just this past Sunday, my husband, stepson and I went to see friends
    at Ogunquit beach in Maine where naturally, we had to wear clothes.
    Now I felt uncomfortable!  I look absolutely ridiculous in my bright
    red maternity bathing suit!
    
    - Kathryn
    

    Hi I have just started using notes a few months ago and I am slowly
    working my way through and saw your note. I also noticed we are
    on the same system. To pass on some information you should write
    to the New England Narurists Association and join it. It is a family
    organization that puts out a new letter every other month on naturists
    (nudists) activities , intrests, and what is going on in the north
    east in futhering the cause of a cloths optional society . The address
    iNew England Naturist Association Inc. Box 3209 Wayland Sq. Station
    Providence, R.I. 02906. I am one of the sig leaders my intrests
    are back packing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I have
    a note file on that subject Note 130. 
    By joining N.E.N.A. it will help you learn more about naturism.
    Also it has information on several excellent naturist magazines
    that focus on the naturist life style. I hope this is helpful and
    maybe you might be intrested in joining myself and others on a trip
    in New Hampshire bare back packing.
    John