Bliss

Human beings to me are as much a part of nature as trees or birds, and the unclothed body expresses this belongingness directly and powerfully.
Wynn Bullock

Despite continued threats of clouds and rain, Sunday broke forth in a glorious blaze of blue skies, sun and high, fluffy clouds. It had been our wish to escape to our beloved Springs for the past couple of weeks but ominous weather predictions held us at bay. We finally got to the point where we firmly decided that no matter what the predicted forecast was, we were going.

Once again, we invited my friend from work to join us and she eagerly accepted. Once there, she takes off on an entirely different direction; specifically, she takes herself away for long walks. She feels a great need to be "at one" with the terra firma and this place is an excellent choice to pursue that endeavor. My darling and I? Just point us to the steam room and the promise of a refreshing, soul-cleansing submersion into a cool pool of spring-fed water and we’re happy. Our friend is constantly on the move; we are more stationary once settled with our books and appreciative looks between each other.

We treat the Springs as if it’s our gift to bestow upon those who are worthy. It’s such a marvelous place to share with someone we’re very sure will enjoy it. A day at the Springs isn’t for everybody. A great many people we care for wouldn’t understand our love affair with the place. It’s a haven for dreamers, those who are willing and wish to step away from their worries and cares and lose themselves in a soothing atmosphere of peace and quiet amidst gardens, saunas, hot tubs and steam. The Springs is for soul searching, introspection and an opportunity to simply revel in the sheer joy of existence. It helps to be somewhat of a hedonist as well.

A Bit of Introspection

Title:  Nymph of The River

Artist: Frederic, Lord Leighton

I will go to the bank by the wood and become undisguised and naked.
Walt Whitman

Now that I’ve explored this naturist way of life for several years, I have to stop and ask myself, am I really a naturist in the truest sense of the word?  In all honesty I would say no, I’m not.  I dabble in it and remain on the fringe of a completely dedicated naturist lifestyle.  Then I ask myself why I continue with even this much participation.  It’s interesting, it’s fun, it doesn’t hurt anyone and it’s just enough off center of the norm to make me feel as if I’m doing something a little wild and crazy.  I am not a "wild and crazy" type by nature and this is just the ticket for me.

My husband and I are what I would call fair weather naturists.  We pretty much come out to play the naturist game during the warm months of the year.  This makes sense to me.  With the arrival of the nicer weather I find myself having to work a bit (both mentally and physically) to get back in the proper mind frame of naturism.  I don’t think my husband goes through anything like this.  He’s ready to shed his clothes in the twinkling of an eye, usually his, directed at me.  What kind of man is it anyway who wants to show off his naked wife to other people?  I choose to think that it’s a very happy, slightly smug man who wants to show off to the world who he has as a playmate, lover and true companion.  I am all these things and more to my husband.  Should I be surprised he wants to share his favorite person in such a manner every now and then? Somehow, I don’t think so.  In fact, it pleases me.  Look out world, here we come!

Reality Check

I suppose we acquire most of our feelings about our bodies too early, and in ways too complicated, to make them easy to account for.
Charis Wilson

The sun has begun to spread its warm rays across the land more and more, the daylight is lasting longer. And so it is time for part-time naturists like me to prepare for the worst, face the music and check out what’s been hiding under those sweaters, sweatshirts and loose-fitting pants that I’ve been wearing these past winter months. It’s time to take a deep breath and really look at myself, naked, in the mirror to assess the damage done by a seemingly continuous holiday assembly line of good food, festive drinks and sinful desserts.

It’s awfully easy to lose sight of one’s shape when it’s been under wraps for months. I’ve been putting this reality check off for some time. After three years of whipping myself into shape in a major fashion and denying myself all and anything that hinted at containing extra fat and empty calories, I broke down. I indulged in food groups I’d almost forgotten existed. It was wonderful but I knew the time would come to pay the price for this backslide. I am a relatively short, middle-aged, mid menopausal woman. There’s nowhere for any extra pounds to go but around my middle; the laws of gravity don’t help one bit either. Yes, I know, the human form is beautiful and not one of us should be self-conscious or ashamed of how we look. I, however, am supremely self-image/body conscious. I can’t help it; this is how I am. If I’m going to enjoy participating in any kind of naturist activity, I have to be in the best shape I can be.

I took a deep breath, I looked...time for action all right...time for setting aside time each day for an exercise program with a bit of structure and sticking with it. Time for free weights, we call them "Tom". Makes them seem a bit more friendly this way. I’ve employed many different kinds of exercise techniques over the years with success but this time I’m trying the most basic, accessible means of exercise there is; namely, walking. I live in a very walker-friendly town and so far I’m three weeks into an almost daily 30 minute plus walk.

I used to obsess with numbers on a scale not so long ago. These days I rarely check out my weight. How my clothes fit (or don’t), how I feel and what my reflection tells me is all I need to know. A number on a scale doesn’t mean much. It’s more how that number is packaged. The bad news is I’m guessing I need to shed about eight to ten pounds. It just wouldn’t do to have a rotund SpringsNymph prancing around the place. The good news is this is definitely an attainable goal and should be easily achieved by the time the really warm weather arrives. My husband and I are planning a vacation of a naturist bent later this year and what better incentive than this?

A Long Absent Naturist's Return (Long term, I hope)

The best dress for walking is nakedness. But our sad though fascinating world rarely offers the right and necessary combinations of weather and privacy, and even when it does the Utopia never seems to last very long.
Colin Fletcher, The Complete Walker III

The last gathering we attended of our naturist group was back in January. There’s usually a get-together once a month but we were unable to attend the next two. April’s pot-luck/gathering/social event took place yesterday. After an extended period of unsettled weather, the sun was most cooperative and shone down on us kindly as we basked like lizards on the deck in our (mostly) winter-white skins, eagerly soaking it up. It never occurs to me to think of sun block in the middle of April. I don’t think I got burnt but I’m feeling a little warm glow warning me I’d better not forget to apply some next time.

It was nice to get together again. I hadn’t seen some of these folks for quite some time due to conflicting schedules, illnesses and such. This time around the potluck was assigned a theme; Italian. You know what that means. Pasta in every way, shape and form. Not a problem for me, I could eat that stuff every day. As usual, everything was tasty and highly caloric. Cheese always seems to figure largely at these functions and if there’s one thing I try to stay away from it’s cheese. I love it but it’s not too great for someone with a cholesterol problem with which I am afflicted, most unfortunately! With so much good food around, I don’t throw caution to the wind entirely at these events but I do try to keep it tethered!

The usual crowd was there. No new faces to be seen and this is our major dilemma. We need more members to flesh (!) out our group but none seem to be forthcoming. Early this summer an annual Health and Harmony Fair is going to take place at our county’s main fairgrounds. We’re making plans to set up and man a booth to promote some much needed awareness of our group. This should prove most interesting because it’s extremely important that the right message comes across that conveys what we’re all about. Naturism is a touchy subject which needs to be handled with kid gloves. Hmm...a naturist sporting kid gloves; that would make an interesting picture, don’t you think?

I'm Back!

Yes, I’m back. After a seven week, self-imposed sabbatical, don’t you think it’s time?

This past Sunday my husband and I made our first visit of the year to the beautiful hot spring location we love so much. It would be wonderful to make this a monthly habit but that never seems to be a plan we can count on. We brought a guest along with us this time; a woman with whom I work who, I discovered much to my delight, is a kindred spirit of the naturist persuasion. She is the activity director at the facility where I work; an occupation with challenges that cry out for the soothing, peaceful balm the Springs offer.

We drove up together in our car, enjoyed a nice visit during the ride and then went our separate ways until lunchtime. It’s difficult to imagine even wanting to go to a place like this in the middle of January only to remove your clothing knowing full well that the sole time you’ll be indoors is for a meal. The human body adapts amazingly well to tolerating cooler temperatures and, after all, this is California. It isn’t a case of standing knee deep, naked, in snowy, 30 degree weather.

There’s an incredible beauty to the Springs in the winter which is hard to describe. You can be sure all the warm spots are eagerly sought out. The steam room and sauna are fuller than usual. The private tubs (nice roomy tubs with enough room for two to lounge comfortably) are usually all occupied. The big communal hot tub and the smaller pool into which it overflows are full to capacity. It’s all very cozy and companionable and it doesn’t seem to matter at all that the skies are grey, rain is imminent and the usual colorful explosion of flora is absent. There are many pine and bay trees, green and fragrant and they are pleasing to see. There’s something very satisfying about sitting or lying in a small body of water, the steam rising into the cool air surrounding you; you’re on low simmer and it feels so indulgently good.

We always bring our books to read but more often than not, they never even make it out of the backpack. There’s too much to look at, too much to listen to, to much to talk or daydream about. After a few hours of these dreamy pleasantries, stomachs begin to growl. It’s time for lunch and lunch at the Springs for us is a treat beyond words but I’ll try.

My husband prepares for Springs visits ahead of time and had stashed away in the freezer a goodly amount of a wonderful soup he made recently for a future visit. Soup, bread and wine was the order of the day. My husband took himself away to the communal kitchen in the lodge and worked some of his magic. By the time he rounded up our guest and me to announce that it was time to eat, we were met with a table completely set for the meal, bread sliced, soup heated, wine on table with mankind’s greatest invention close at hand, wine glasses, red seedless grapes in a bowl. Awesome! The man was in his true element of providing and setting out a minor feast and basking in our appreciation of same. Damn, he’s good at this--a master.

We had a long, leisurely meal and after cleaning up, returned to the waters for a few more hours’ enjoyment. The time to depart this magical place is always earlier in the winter months to ensure a safe drive home in relative daylight. The road to the Springs is one I don’t wish to travel in the dark and more often than not, I am the one who drives home. It’s so hard to tear ourselves away from here. We want to stay forever. As the car climbs the first hill traveling away from the Springs, I’m already thinking and looking forward to our next visit. I hope it’s soon.

**A Holiday Note**

"Musings" is taking a bit of a holiday.  I shall resume when the spirit of this journal (or some adventure occurs that I would like to share) calls to me. 

The Happiest of Holidays to everyone.  Let us all try to be kind to one another, expand our horizons a little and exercise an open mind to the many possibilities offered in this life. 

                  

             

All Undressed and Nowhere to Go

Our naturist group's second annual Thanksgiving potluck was held this past Saturday at the home of two of our members.  Last year's turnout was modest; this year there were only five of us in addition to our host and hostess.  The seven of us had a very nice evening and enjoyed a little preview of Thanksgiving goodies.  Have you ever tried pumpkin soup?  It's better than you might think.

I fear our little group is gradually disbanding but I'm not sure why.  I hate to think it's because of lack of interest.  Perhaps some members have ceased to come to our gatherings because they're not "interesting" enough.  Why then continue to remain a member of the group?  I think one of our biggest problems is availability of location for our events.

One of our members passed away this past February.  This kind, gentle man and his wife were two of the founding members of our group.  In fact, this was the couple with whom my husband and I had our initial interview to join the group.  Their home was in the most prime location for a naturist gathering.  They lived way out in the moutains beyond our town, up a long driveway accessible only if you were expected.  One of them would drive down to open a locked gate to admit you.  It was a very safe, secure place.  I think the idea was to have many of the events take place here.  Alas, it was a rental property and his surviving widow had to move.

When a group of nice people wishes to gather and socialize sans clothing, society dictates it be in a locale far and away from clothed, decent folk.  Our gatherings have become fewer and fewer because most of us don't live in some secluded area away from prying eyes.  This puts the brunt of our meetings on one or another of two couples who do live in somewhat private surroundings.  This doesn't seem to be fair but what is to be done about it?

We could never host a get-together.  It's impossible to host a naturist event when one lives on a postage stamp-sized lot in the middle of town.  What would the neighbors say?  I shudder to think!  It's sad because this has been an affordable way to enjoy the company of like-minded people without having to travel very far or join some expensive club.  I suppose all of us are secretly hoping that someone will join our group who owns a palatial home on a vast amount of property and would enjoy nothing more than making it available to his naturist friends.  This would solve the problem very nicely.  Hope springs eternal, after all.

We don't get together in December because of holiday celebrations and the likelihood of many planned and prior commitments.  Our next meeting is in Janurary at some place yet to be determined.  I hope we can generate some new interest in the group before it dwindles down to nothing.