Wow, thank you writing this, Timothy, and for articulating so much of what I've felt as I also stepped away from my naturist "platform" and the wider naturist community. I don't have much else I can coherently say besides thank you and to let you know that you're not alone in any of these feelings, and that I applaud you for sharing them and following what feels right to you. I'm also very excited to see what you write next, if anything! I've followed and stayed connected with you for your passion and perspectives on more than just naturism so I hope you keep writing! Wishing you all the best <3
I feel many of the same sentiments. I have loved my journey from spontaneous nudist teenager to free beach nomad, and love being naked, doing everyday life naked. I believe anything you do is 100% better if naked and I believe our connection to mother earth is more fully realized in the nude, but I am not feeling a vibe with the naturist community. I love its tireless advocacy for what I consider to be an inalienable right and for places to be naked on this green earth, but so much of its energy goes into shallow, skin-deep chatter that has no intellectual or spiritual resonance. The online naturist world (Planet Nude substack excepted) is mostly vain, silly, self-important posts of bare butts at some scruff of a beach with reports on how vigilant you have to be for the ranger. There is also an almost soft porn exhibitionism to it that is both insistent and a bit icky. Maybe my joy in naturism has built unrealistic expectations as to what it can give me and I need to narrow my focus to find or create an intellectual community that can talk about Russian novels or energy solutions or European history, who happen to want to do so naked. The naturist community, as it struggles today, seems to have few interests beyond the lovely hedonism of being naked in as many places as possible and maybe expecting more than that is too much. I think most of us gravitate to naturism because we find light, a spiritual exultation, in it, whether we know it or not, but we don't explore or cultivate that space and seem unable to even make a convincing argument as to why it deserves a slice of sand at the end of every beach. Being naked in the great mystical universe will always lift me, will always give me a shot of optimism, but the naturist community is a lot of noise that doesn't reward me enough to stay very engaged.
Thanks for all your work, Timothy. I understand your reasons and indeed had already seen the ‘writing on the wall’ in some of your previous posts. I’m glad you can do what works for you. But I will miss your perspectives on this topic. And the timing really sucks on this day of devastating loss. 😔 All best to you always!
I've enjoyed reading your writing. If you're interested in my two cents, I do think you've hit on something that a lot of nudist messaging takes the approach of framing nudism as oppositional to society, which, when you're talking of a movement around social nudity, you can see creates something of a contradiction. There's far too much effort placed on framing being at a nude beach as being something you to for for ideological reasons, as opposed to it just being a beach where being naked is what you do there. In other words, it's difficult to be social if cutting yourself off from society is the entrance fee. In laving, you've not only hit on but actively demonstrated what I consider being one of the main reasons nudism is having such trouble growing.
Because we live amidst a society that has so many anti-nude opinions and laws, people sometimes have to be rather disingenuous to be able to enjoy being able to be around other naked people at the beach or some resort. One constantly hears it said that nudism or naturism isn't sexual. Strictly speaking, sex is actual intercourse that has the chance of procreation, but society has deemed even enjoying seeing another naked body as sex. So, there may not be any actual sex going on at a nudist resort, but to say that people don't look below the neck, or have erotic thoughts, or just appreciate seeing another naked person.....is totally disingenuous!!! I see much that I disapprove of that is being accepted in the nudist community (tattoos, piercings, smoking, drinking, etc.), but I would be frowned upon because I have a lifelong interest in the naked body. Unfortunately, I can only be naked in my apartment, and I enjoy that if it is warm enough, but I have to avoid being near windows. I can understand your frustration with some of the attitudes you may have encountered. For me, I still believe that there should be NO laws against public nudity! This is NOT what some nudist/naturist believe.....strange! Good luck on your journey through life.
Thank you for your honest and obviously well thought through post. You have articulated something that I am sure resonates with many people. I began writing about naturism a few years back and after forcing out a weekly blog for over 2 years, got to the point where I didn’t feel that I was adding to the discussion. I still call myself a naturist, and I still prefer nudity over clothing. I guess I have come to the conclusion that I just want the choice to wear, or not wear, whatever I want. I am frustrated by the double standards in society between what is acceptable for one group as opposed to another group. Going topless for women vs men is a clear example, but there are other examples that get me just as wound up. I have found the naturist community to be largely in line with my overall philosophy on life, with a few outlying exceptions, but that is the nature of a community.
What ever you do and wherever your journey takes you, I wish you the very best. I am sure that I am not the only person to have enjoyed and even benefited from your contributions.
I have been feeling that I did not fit by just being naked and enjoying that freedom.
I have recently read definitions of: nudity and naturism. They do not seem to fit me. I will still enjoy being naked, the freedom, feeling the wind and sun where it seldom is.
Timothy. Huge hug for you on your onward journey. I don't doubt that it will be an inspiring one.
At 65, I remain a work in progress with lots of things to figure out - or not - in the future. Humans have multifaceted reactions and interactions internally and with the world surrounding them. I don't see contradictions or conflict so much as contexts. I'm as happy naked while hiking, swimming, cycling etc., as I am shopping for and then wearing designer duds.
I've enjoyed reading your posts. Perhaps you'll pop up in my feed in another context one day.
I really appreciate you taking the time to write this vulnerable piece, equally as eloquent and impactful as all of your writing has always been. I am at somewhat of a loss for the right words here, but I would be remiss if I did not reiterate how much I've enjoyed keeping up with all of your entries over the years. I also want to thank you for deciding to keep them online, as I personally found so many of your posts really resonated with me as I explored my own journey of discovering social nudity (which, ironically, started about six years ago). I believe your work will continue to inspire many and provoke thought among many others, regardless of the topic at hand. Thank you again for all of your contributions to this community, even if at times it feels like it failed you. I wish you the absolute best in your future endeavors and I hope that we have the opportunity for our paths to cross in person some day. Please do not hesitate to reach out any time! Lots of love, Justin (& Nikki)
I like Timothy the individual. The writer I have grown to know, who is undoubtedly more than a writer, but that's the lens I know him through.
I like his introspection, his self-effacing humour, the way he probes and challenges norms and for humbleness and openness of his own human experience.
I'm glad that he has chosen how own path and to continue growing as an individual. I hope he'll loop back here in the future and be met with warmth and enthusiasm like family and friend.
There's not quite the right space here to stay in touch casually while supporting the next step in his journey, but I have to believe that the limitations here don't reflect the unspoken but very much felt experiences of life itself. I choose to believe that the best will carry forward and stay connected in ways beyond words.
I am so glad that you decided to write this conclusion for closure. If you ever do choose to write about any of your other interests, I would love to jump on board. I have enjoyed getting to "know" you through your writing. I am proud of you for listening to your heart and doing what feels right. Wishing you all the best, Matty xo
Interesting! Although I have seen similar journeys in the Nudist community.
* I hope you leave up your writing for long term because it has value even if your path has changed*
**I also strongly value your insight as a younger Nudist because unfortunately the narrative is controlled by old folks and it's a real problem**
But, as a couple with multiple interests my spouse reminds me often that it's easy to choose one interest that defines us and I tend to make hobbies and recreation into work. I think it all comes down to a healthy life/work/interests balance. No single element should define us.
It's interesting the peer pressure and culture of AANR about how we should all spend every waking moment volunteering when it is after all a form of recreation. Certainly you have to support your interests but does it define me?
Unfortunately we see too much petty politics in the region of the PNW at clubs such as the Willamettans and many of us feel members have lost all rational perception and are cult like with a serious mean streak. I have seen some really amazing people dropping out because some elements have become toxic.
However, there's still a lot of value in the Nudist community as a whole and we are evaluating our future with interest it and focusing on the positive and bypass the negative.
Unfortunately, I feel many younger (under 40-50) members are alienated. I hope you give it some time and find a positive balance between the textile world and the nudist.
I want to thank you for your voice and time in this endeavor!
I haven't followed you for that long, however as a straight white male, I found so much of your writing very agreeable to my own thoughts. I would very much love to follow your brain and thoughts on your new path(s). If you ever decide to just have an online diary of your every day journey, I'm sure many would read it. Just a thought.
Wow. Thanks Timothy. I will miss your thoughtful posts and analysis. I reached a similar conclusion about naturism during the pandemic as I could no longer join with others naked. I realized while social nuditu is enjoyable I didn’t want my free time and fun to focus on that activity as the top priority.
So cheers for the great reads and enjoy being naked when you feel like it or not 😊 !
I have never been comfortable with the label “nudist” and while “naturist” feels much better, I am not comfortable with conforming myself to another’s opinion of what the label means. This has always been a challenge for me.
I “belong” to the group who believe what I believe, which is often a group of one. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it does not mean that I can’t also be a part of other groups, but it does mean I don’t define myself by them.
I’m happy for you to have made a choice that that seems at least at first glance, appears to be a similar one.
Thank you so much for your candid expression of your thoughts and your personal insights about yourself. I have experienced a lot of evolution in my life also and I read your letter with much interest. I can really relate to much of what you wrote. You have given me a lot to think about and to learn from. Thank you Timothy!
Wow, thank you writing this, Timothy, and for articulating so much of what I've felt as I also stepped away from my naturist "platform" and the wider naturist community. I don't have much else I can coherently say besides thank you and to let you know that you're not alone in any of these feelings, and that I applaud you for sharing them and following what feels right to you. I'm also very excited to see what you write next, if anything! I've followed and stayed connected with you for your passion and perspectives on more than just naturism so I hope you keep writing! Wishing you all the best <3
I feel many of the same sentiments. I have loved my journey from spontaneous nudist teenager to free beach nomad, and love being naked, doing everyday life naked. I believe anything you do is 100% better if naked and I believe our connection to mother earth is more fully realized in the nude, but I am not feeling a vibe with the naturist community. I love its tireless advocacy for what I consider to be an inalienable right and for places to be naked on this green earth, but so much of its energy goes into shallow, skin-deep chatter that has no intellectual or spiritual resonance. The online naturist world (Planet Nude substack excepted) is mostly vain, silly, self-important posts of bare butts at some scruff of a beach with reports on how vigilant you have to be for the ranger. There is also an almost soft porn exhibitionism to it that is both insistent and a bit icky. Maybe my joy in naturism has built unrealistic expectations as to what it can give me and I need to narrow my focus to find or create an intellectual community that can talk about Russian novels or energy solutions or European history, who happen to want to do so naked. The naturist community, as it struggles today, seems to have few interests beyond the lovely hedonism of being naked in as many places as possible and maybe expecting more than that is too much. I think most of us gravitate to naturism because we find light, a spiritual exultation, in it, whether we know it or not, but we don't explore or cultivate that space and seem unable to even make a convincing argument as to why it deserves a slice of sand at the end of every beach. Being naked in the great mystical universe will always lift me, will always give me a shot of optimism, but the naturist community is a lot of noise that doesn't reward me enough to stay very engaged.
Thanks for all your work, Timothy. I understand your reasons and indeed had already seen the ‘writing on the wall’ in some of your previous posts. I’m glad you can do what works for you. But I will miss your perspectives on this topic. And the timing really sucks on this day of devastating loss. 😔 All best to you always!
I've enjoyed reading your writing. If you're interested in my two cents, I do think you've hit on something that a lot of nudist messaging takes the approach of framing nudism as oppositional to society, which, when you're talking of a movement around social nudity, you can see creates something of a contradiction. There's far too much effort placed on framing being at a nude beach as being something you to for for ideological reasons, as opposed to it just being a beach where being naked is what you do there. In other words, it's difficult to be social if cutting yourself off from society is the entrance fee. In laving, you've not only hit on but actively demonstrated what I consider being one of the main reasons nudism is having such trouble growing.
Because we live amidst a society that has so many anti-nude opinions and laws, people sometimes have to be rather disingenuous to be able to enjoy being able to be around other naked people at the beach or some resort. One constantly hears it said that nudism or naturism isn't sexual. Strictly speaking, sex is actual intercourse that has the chance of procreation, but society has deemed even enjoying seeing another naked body as sex. So, there may not be any actual sex going on at a nudist resort, but to say that people don't look below the neck, or have erotic thoughts, or just appreciate seeing another naked person.....is totally disingenuous!!! I see much that I disapprove of that is being accepted in the nudist community (tattoos, piercings, smoking, drinking, etc.), but I would be frowned upon because I have a lifelong interest in the naked body. Unfortunately, I can only be naked in my apartment, and I enjoy that if it is warm enough, but I have to avoid being near windows. I can understand your frustration with some of the attitudes you may have encountered. For me, I still believe that there should be NO laws against public nudity! This is NOT what some nudist/naturist believe.....strange! Good luck on your journey through life.
Thank you for your honest and obviously well thought through post. You have articulated something that I am sure resonates with many people. I began writing about naturism a few years back and after forcing out a weekly blog for over 2 years, got to the point where I didn’t feel that I was adding to the discussion. I still call myself a naturist, and I still prefer nudity over clothing. I guess I have come to the conclusion that I just want the choice to wear, or not wear, whatever I want. I am frustrated by the double standards in society between what is acceptable for one group as opposed to another group. Going topless for women vs men is a clear example, but there are other examples that get me just as wound up. I have found the naturist community to be largely in line with my overall philosophy on life, with a few outlying exceptions, but that is the nature of a community.
What ever you do and wherever your journey takes you, I wish you the very best. I am sure that I am not the only person to have enjoyed and even benefited from your contributions.
Thank You for this piece.
I have been feeling that I did not fit by just being naked and enjoying that freedom.
I have recently read definitions of: nudity and naturism. They do not seem to fit me. I will still enjoy being naked, the freedom, feeling the wind and sun where it seldom is.
Enjoy your life, best wishes.
Timothy. Huge hug for you on your onward journey. I don't doubt that it will be an inspiring one.
At 65, I remain a work in progress with lots of things to figure out - or not - in the future. Humans have multifaceted reactions and interactions internally and with the world surrounding them. I don't see contradictions or conflict so much as contexts. I'm as happy naked while hiking, swimming, cycling etc., as I am shopping for and then wearing designer duds.
I've enjoyed reading your posts. Perhaps you'll pop up in my feed in another context one day.
Cheers
j.
I really appreciate you taking the time to write this vulnerable piece, equally as eloquent and impactful as all of your writing has always been. I am at somewhat of a loss for the right words here, but I would be remiss if I did not reiterate how much I've enjoyed keeping up with all of your entries over the years. I also want to thank you for deciding to keep them online, as I personally found so many of your posts really resonated with me as I explored my own journey of discovering social nudity (which, ironically, started about six years ago). I believe your work will continue to inspire many and provoke thought among many others, regardless of the topic at hand. Thank you again for all of your contributions to this community, even if at times it feels like it failed you. I wish you the absolute best in your future endeavors and I hope that we have the opportunity for our paths to cross in person some day. Please do not hesitate to reach out any time! Lots of love, Justin (& Nikki)
I like Timothy the individual. The writer I have grown to know, who is undoubtedly more than a writer, but that's the lens I know him through.
I like his introspection, his self-effacing humour, the way he probes and challenges norms and for humbleness and openness of his own human experience.
I'm glad that he has chosen how own path and to continue growing as an individual. I hope he'll loop back here in the future and be met with warmth and enthusiasm like family and friend.
There's not quite the right space here to stay in touch casually while supporting the next step in his journey, but I have to believe that the limitations here don't reflect the unspoken but very much felt experiences of life itself. I choose to believe that the best will carry forward and stay connected in ways beyond words.
As always, thank you for writing this.
I am so glad that you decided to write this conclusion for closure. If you ever do choose to write about any of your other interests, I would love to jump on board. I have enjoyed getting to "know" you through your writing. I am proud of you for listening to your heart and doing what feels right. Wishing you all the best, Matty xo
Interesting! Although I have seen similar journeys in the Nudist community.
* I hope you leave up your writing for long term because it has value even if your path has changed*
**I also strongly value your insight as a younger Nudist because unfortunately the narrative is controlled by old folks and it's a real problem**
But, as a couple with multiple interests my spouse reminds me often that it's easy to choose one interest that defines us and I tend to make hobbies and recreation into work. I think it all comes down to a healthy life/work/interests balance. No single element should define us.
It's interesting the peer pressure and culture of AANR about how we should all spend every waking moment volunteering when it is after all a form of recreation. Certainly you have to support your interests but does it define me?
Unfortunately we see too much petty politics in the region of the PNW at clubs such as the Willamettans and many of us feel members have lost all rational perception and are cult like with a serious mean streak. I have seen some really amazing people dropping out because some elements have become toxic.
However, there's still a lot of value in the Nudist community as a whole and we are evaluating our future with interest it and focusing on the positive and bypass the negative.
Unfortunately, I feel many younger (under 40-50) members are alienated. I hope you give it some time and find a positive balance between the textile world and the nudist.
I want to thank you for your voice and time in this endeavor!
I haven't followed you for that long, however as a straight white male, I found so much of your writing very agreeable to my own thoughts. I would very much love to follow your brain and thoughts on your new path(s). If you ever decide to just have an online diary of your every day journey, I'm sure many would read it. Just a thought.
Wow. Thanks Timothy. I will miss your thoughtful posts and analysis. I reached a similar conclusion about naturism during the pandemic as I could no longer join with others naked. I realized while social nuditu is enjoyable I didn’t want my free time and fun to focus on that activity as the top priority.
So cheers for the great reads and enjoy being naked when you feel like it or not 😊 !
I have never been comfortable with the label “nudist” and while “naturist” feels much better, I am not comfortable with conforming myself to another’s opinion of what the label means. This has always been a challenge for me.
I “belong” to the group who believe what I believe, which is often a group of one. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it does not mean that I can’t also be a part of other groups, but it does mean I don’t define myself by them.
I’m happy for you to have made a choice that that seems at least at first glance, appears to be a similar one.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for your candid expression of your thoughts and your personal insights about yourself. I have experienced a lot of evolution in my life also and I read your letter with much interest. I can really relate to much of what you wrote. You have given me a lot to think about and to learn from. Thank you Timothy!