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.

A Holdout

http://www.thetroth.org/albums/gotterdammerung/18_rhin

I laughingly mentioned shaving off my pubic hair as part of a costume when I was casting about for ideas for our naturist Halloween party.  I wasn't one bit serious about doing such a thing but it made me start to think about all the people who do this and why.  These people are non-naturists and naturists, men and women.

I wonder why it is that people choose to shave this area of their body.  Isn't dealing with the hair on our head, leg hair and underarm hair enough of a job without adding yet another depilatory chore to the mix?  I've heard people say they like the bare look and the closer contact of skin to skin in that very sensitive area.  It's a visual preference as well as a tactile one.  I can't get past the nagging thought of feeling constantly itchy and needing to scratch (perhaps even in public, horrors!) where that hair wants to grow back.  Talk about constant upkeep!  Who's got time for this?  But there's more than this to my reluctance to hop on this particular bandwagon of style.

When you shed your clothes and stand naked before the world, in truth more like a group of people, let's face it--you are quite vulnerable.  As a woman I can only speak from a feminine perspective but I consider that little triangle of hair my one remaining bastion between me and the world.  Admittedly, it's not much of a fortress but I feel as though it keeps my private parts a little more...well, private!  That's why we call them that isn't it?  I find that while I have no problem with being naked around like-minded friends and strangers, I don't especially wish to share every last inch of myself with the world.  Retaining that strategically placed little tuft leaves me with one last shred of control over whom I choose to share those parts with, visually and intimately.

For some time now, I've been observing other nudists and naturists and how they carry themselves.  Personally, I think nudism calls for a certain amount of grace and decorum to be carried out successfully.  Many would probably beg to differ with me, they having more of a "let it all hang out" attitude.  This doesn't work for me and I'm conscious of how I present myself physically.  I apply this consiousness when naked in public or in the privacy of my own home with my husband.  I'm trying to express that I think it's possible to maintain a bit of mystery without benefit of clothing.  Consider this entry simply one of a musing nature.  I have to remain true to my journal's title once in awhile. 

 

 

 

An Early Halloween

 Our naturist Halloween party was lots of fun.  These get-togethers always are.  This time several people showed up in costume which was fun but it was a little strange in a way because when attending these functions the idea is to be free from clothing when we're together.  Actually, it's always an option to wear clothes or not at any of our events.  Rarely does anyone remained clothed after their arrival.

For one reason or another we hadn't had the opportunity to join any recent events and hadn't seen most of these folks since the Carnival in July.  Once again, I was struck by how pleasant the people are in our little group.  Some are more social and talkative than others.  You find this in any group but there always seems to be this air of bonhomie among us.  They are kind, polite, thoughtful souls.

Our hosts' house had more unique Halloween decorations inside than I've ever seen anywhere.  I soon discovered, in part, the reason for this.  Seems our hostess was born on Oct. 31 and what could be more fitting than giving her a Halloween-themed gift?  Obviously, lots of people have felt the same way.

Our next planned event is a potluck Thanksgiving in the middle of November.  We had such a good time last year and it was then I realized that naturists tend to be excellent cooks.  They are in our group at least. 

Oh yes, and about my costume at the party?  I'm afraid I pretty much side-stepped the whole costume thing after all and opted for a generous application of spray glitter where I thought it would be most suitable.  You could say I was positively sparkling that evening!

A Naturist's Halloween

Tomorrow, I will be attending my second annual naturist Halloween party.  Last year I was so new to the group that I never gave a second's thought to putting together a costume.  I'm not too big on celebrating Halloween anyway and look upon this event as more of another pleasant opportunity to join some very nice people for good food, wine and sparkling conversation.

For the past week I've been thinking it might be kind of fun to show up in some kind of costume.  Clothing is usually absent from these gatherings so this is a complete turnabout of thought.  I've been concentrating my thoughts on portraying something or someone easily identifiable using props only. 

My first thought was for my husband and me to arrive as Adam and Eve with nothing more than a big shiny apple and bright smiles.  No fig leaves would be necessary; we'd be the happy couple before either of them bit into anything!

Next, I thought that if I donned one of those extremely long-haired wigs that are always on sale this time of year and borrowed my granddaughter's hobby-horse I could arrive in style as, who else?  Lady Godiva.  I'm kind of liking this one. 

My darling, ever inventive husband came up with an outrageous, albeit imaginative idea.  His suggestion was that I shave off my pubic hair and arrive with a blender in one hand and a piece of fresh fruit in the other.  And what would I be?  Why, a fruit smoothie of course!  Now really!  Do you think he's trying to tell me something??  It's a bit abstract, I'll admit, but if you knew my husband, you'd understand.  Got to give him an A+ for creativity!

Tomorow's almost here and I'd better decide upon something, if anything, fairly soon.  I'm looking forward to going because for one reason or another we haven't seen any of our naturist friends since the Carnival in summer.  I'll let you know how it turned out.

P.S.  This entry is yet another example of how my choice of font is changing on me.  I'm beginning to suspect the addition of pictures.  Any suggestions?

Just Dreaming...

When I think of my screen name, this is how I like to imagine I would look in my proper surroundings.  Thank goodness our Creator gave us the gift of imagination along with so many others.

 

 

This picture comes from an awesome collection I discovered while looking around for "nymph" pictures of which there are too few.  http://www.babydoll.be?Fantasy%20babes%.207.htm

 

Check out the link above.