Naked at lunch

Dear friends, I have a confession to make. I have kept this tidbit under wraps for years, but if you all will bare with me, I feel it is time to unveil the real me.

I have been naked in public. Well, semi-public. But not semi-naked. I have decked out my best birthday suit at pool parties, campgrounds, dance halls, bowling alleys, and even a convention hotel. I have laughed and mingled in both LGBTQ- and hetero-identified crowds, with nary a button or zipper in sight.

It wasn't about sex, exhibitionism, or wardrobe malfunctions. Rather, it's a bit of a rebellious streak against societal expectations and uncomfortable waistbands.

I won't get into the long story of how my interest in nudism started. Just know that it began with a vivid curiosity, and evolved into a discovery of mental peace and body positivity.

I don't know why, but I didn't expect much from this book. I guess because nudism is often thought of as "weird" at best and "perverted" at worst. But the non-nudist author does a great job of blending his own personal experiences with research and interviews. He really dives into the subculture; visiting nudist beaches, resorts, and cruise ships; and in the process, provides humorous insights.

"After spending four days [at a nudist resort], reading by the pool, walking on the beach, even working out in the gym...I found myself getting more relaxed with the whole nonsexual social nude thing and the American attitude about the naked body became more laughable. Not because it's funny, but because it's so extreme. Why is skinny-dipping seen as some form of perversion? Here the nudity is so commonplace it's almost boring. I never would've thought seeing a hundred naked people around the swimming pool would be dullsville, but it is."

I have experienced this same "boring" phenomenon. After the initial shock and self-consciousness that comes with exposure, a calmness settles in. Because nothing happens. No one runs screaming. No one points. No one is bothered. It becomes just another quiet day at the pool.

What I appreciated most about this book is that the author made it clear, if exhibitionism or hedonism is your thing, you do you. No judgements here, consenting adults, yada yada. But he did make clear the distinction between sexual and non-sexual nudism. There is a difference between naturists and swingers, between naked bowling and a fetish party.

In the end, "Naked at Lunch" is not just a book about shedding clothes; it's about shedding societal preconceptions. Social nudism can be for anyone, but it may not be for everyone. This book may not turn you into a nudist, but it will certainly make you question why so many people are offended by something as natural as the human body.

The author of this book did a great job explaining what it is like to be at a nudist resort or activity and to take part even if it is something that you thought that you'd never do.

"There's a refreshing honesty to shopping naked.  In the textile world, people always check each other out, imagining what the other person might look like naked -- don't be coy, you know you do -- but when you can clearly see the breasts of the woman next to you or the penis of the man standing behind you -- in fact, when all around you are bare breasts and dangling penises and buttocks and bodies -- well, a lot of the puerile fantasy that is commonplace in our society just disappears."

Buttocks Not Burkas! should be the new battle cry.He talks about different societies' takes on indecency laws.  Here's the situation in a lot of the U.S.

"So, essentially, if some random dude, like a park ranger, finds your breasts erotic in some way, then it's your responsibility to cover them.  It's no longer your decision, but the dirty mind of a stranger, that decides if you're indecently exposed or not."

He discusses the history of different nudist movements.  It was big in Germany between the World Wars.

"Hermann Goring declared that nudism 'destroys women's natural feeling of shame, and causes men to lose respect for women, thereby destroying the basis for any real culture.'  Is he saying that real culture comes from women living in shame?  What does that even mean?"

I learned a lot from this book.  I feel like I can drop interesting factoids about nudism into conversation now.  I like that after reading a nonfiction book.  However, I do still have a few questions.




How are you not fried to a crisp?

This one was discussed.  He was very worried about sunblock.  I'm a burner.  Just going to the beach requires spackling on huge amounts of sunblock.  When I come out of the water I tend to lay with towels over me as a physical barrier to the deadly sun.  I still burn.

What about chafing?

There is a section on naked hiking in the Alps.  I don't like wearing a skirt without bike shorts underneath because my legs touch.  How are people hiking naked?  I went to their website for purely research purposes and checked out the pictures.  Maybe I'm just fatter than everyone else but that has to be an issue.  Do you just put on a lot of Body Glide and hope for the best?

Ladies, isn't playing sports painful?

I like quite a bit of scaffolding in the chest so my bits aren't flopping all over and getting in the way.  Are other people's body parts just better behaved than mine?

Why are there no men at the Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society?

Yes, there is a topless book club in New York City.  They have a webpage.  They look like they are having a great time with lots of activities.

Are you all just preparing for the destruction of Earth?

Everywhere you go in these events you are reminded to always have a towel with you to sit on.  Am I the only one who thinks immediately of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's command to always carry a towel with you in case you need to hitch a ride off a planet?  Coincidence?




 

"So what if people want to go skinny-dipping at the beach?  If it really bothers you, maybe you need to take a long look at yourself and figure out why it bothers you."

Have you ever been to a social nudist event?  Would you go?

This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story