How was your month for Free Range Naturism?

[Greenbare Woods]

The question is, does one have a God-given right to be nude?

In the US the government is prohibited from establishing a government approved or enforced religion.   The real question is should FREEDOM rule unless there is a compelling government interest to prevent one citizen from hurting other citizens. 

We the People of the United States, in Order to... secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Amendment 10:  The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Is the law unjust? Are the rangers picking on naked people just because they don't like them? Is a complaint necessary? Is being ticketed (that's what they do, they don't arrest you) harassment, fear and violence? Does the rest of the population, who, in theory, have an equal interest in the beach, have an opinion on public nudity that counts? Is the law valid? Is there justice?

Yes, its fear, violence, inappropriate restriction of freedom, overstepping the legitimate purpose of government, and therefore tyranny. 

Bob

[nuduke]

[font=]The real question is should FREEDOM rule unless there is a compelling government interest to prevent one citizen from hurting other citizens. [/font]

Well, yes, I would say so - but we all know it's more complex and nuanced than that.  The question of actual hurt is ambiguous.  You, Bob and I and most of us here would argue that the sight and presence of a naked person does no hurt.  But there are countless who would claim to have been hurt by that.  Who is right?  (I hope we are!! )
John

[jbeegoode]

I'm not so sure that a claim to be hurt is actual hurt. People are imaginative. Much of this notion of being hurt are people who believe that they would be hurt. People who haven't been in a situation to be hurt, but suppose that they would be. People who may claim hurt when they are well out of a norm, sitting on an island and overly sensitive, even to the point of disorder. In other words, I don't think that anyone has ever been actually hurt by the sight of a nude body. The notion is absurd.

Offended, perhaps. I'm offended everyday by my government. But then again I see that we the people are being hurt by it.
Jbee

[Safebare]

Well, the verdict is in. I was found innocent of the intoxication charge, guilty of the disorderly conduct charge.
The main argument against me was a ruling back in 1998 (David Lacour vs the State of Texas, 09-96-322CR). Had I known that the prosecutor was going to cite this case, my defense would have been different. The magistrate explained that the ruling defined a public place as any place open to the public, regardless of the remoteness or isolation present at the time of the offense. So, it is public irregardless of any public presence.
The ruling cited did go on to state the existence of public complaints that certainly don't apply in my case. The earlier case involved multiple nudity citations at the same time and place, not an individual off by himself. You can Google the case. 
The naturalist was set immediately after mine concluded. He accepted the plea deal because the first thing they do is establish penalty ranges for the charges. $5,000 & 6 months confinement. Can you imagine?!! Your body offends me so you get to give up $5k and 6 non-refundable months in lock up.
I was fined $500 plus, plus, plus. The DA wanted a year probation, but the judge declined that penalty. He said that it would be stupid for me to repeat the same offense.
The officer may have perjured himself in testifying that he was offended by my nudity. He said twice, while we were on the beach, that he wasn't offended by the nudity, he was only enforcing the laws. I will see if those statements are reasonably captured on the body cam. If so, I will talk to the attorney about further options.

And the world spins on!

~Safebare

[jbeegoode]

$5000 plus 6 months, for taking a shower on the beach! The threat is absurd. The threat makes a plea deal, not justice.

UNJUST!!! Just scaring people is not justice. Excessive.

Of course this is Texas where it used to be, maybe still is, legal to shoot anyone in bed with your spouse and the spouse. Where a joint of marijuana in possession was a 20 year sentence.....
Jbee

[Safebare]

Yep! Texas has a lot going for it, but I still wonder sometimes if I should pack up and relocate to somewhere that suits my clothes. Instead of trying to convince the populous that how I chose to dress is no one's business but my own.

[Safebare]

Back on topic though.
On January 28th, I attended a naked Tupperware party. That was outside a typical evening for me. A local arts group hosts naked Tuesday events each time the calendar allows us a 5th Tuesday in a month. The theme and location vary each time. It's a well attended gathering consisting of local burners, anacronists, artists, nudists, etc. A wide array of eclectic, if not eccentric group.
It was cold! But that didn't dissuade the group of 50 or so from baring their best. I wore an alpaca poncho while others wore elaborate costumes of plastic ware and shrink wrap.
I brought s'mores fixins in my Tupperware and won the most vintage award. For the Tupperware, not me. They had a real Tupperware lady demonstrating the latest offerings which I found quite interesting. She seemed a bit distracted by all of the naked bodies, but took it all in stride.
We had a fire show while enjoying the s'mores and conversations.
It would have been better on a non-work day, so I could stay longer, having left as things were just getting to roll. The next event will be April 30th. I am looking forward to seeing what they come up with then.

~Safebare

[Greenbare Woods]

but the judge declined that penalty. He said that it would be stupid for me to repeat the same offense.
~Safebare

Rule by fear and intimidation, not by rule of law. 

[nuduke]

Back on topic though.
On January 28th, I attended a naked Tupperware party.

Surely no one can be offended by naked Tupperware!
Tupperware - naturally naked as Earl Silas Tupper intended
John

[Greenbare Woods]

February was the 2nd coldest February ever recorded in Spokane, WA, USA where I live. 

This morning, March 1, was the COLDEST temperature ever recorded in March in Spokane.   -1 F. 

Not a good month for free range naturist walks. 

[John P]

I spent almost the entire month of February on a naturist tour of New Zealand with three friends. Do I need to say that it was an excellent month? (Trip report to come.)

Right now I'm sitting in an armchair in the clubhouse at the Auckland Outdoor Naturist Club (butt on towel, of course) while a friendly conversation in accented voices goes on at the other end of the room. Today we foolishly joined a vulunteer crew pulling up invasive weeds in the grounds, then got a free lunch, then we went out to a lake (Lake Wainamu) which has big dark gray sand dunes at one end. It turned out to be too popular with kids for an immediate swim, but as usual we managed to find a spot. There's always a way! Home on Tuesday.

[jbeegoode]

Continued illness and having teeth pulled was good timing, IF ya gotta. The temperatures and frequent rains have everyone confused. I'm beginning t feel better and the weather has taken a turn for the blue skies and warmth that I live for, since March began today.

So, I walked out to Havarock. The freezes have shattered the brittle bushes overtaking of the desert ground cover. The javalenas were looking fat and happy. I decided that this may be the last opportunity, before snake season, to walk along the ridge to home. I discovered that nearly the entirety of the ridge is now observed by the new house. There are no windows on that side however. I laid on Havarock sunning in peace getting ready for the good changes of life that I am about to receive. Spring's comin'. Better late than never. Found newly uncovered Indian pottery. Planned a pair of excursions while at the hot springs this evening. Hosting a sweat Sunday. Up it was beautiful during the Fall until just before the Xmas stuff and things have sucked since, this too shall be passing. We can't complain about rain, but it has been winter and spring is a month late, this year, and last.

John P., that trip report should be some dang fun. I hope you have notes to place it in informative increments with several fascinating picks.
Jbee

[ric]

february in south west england was one of the warmest for a while. the end of the month in particular when we had string of several sunny days in a row , with just a hint of a frost on a couple of nights. ive been too busy to take time off for rambling but have stacked up the naked hours getting our bungalow ready for sale and in our veg garden in the paddock.   no leaves on the hedges yet, the builders working on the barn conversion next door to the paddock have a view but would need binoculars to see anything to complain about. though the other half will be wearing tan through beech wear till the hedges are in full leaf.
its been so warm that this weekend weve moved from our winter  flat in town into the mobile homes at the paddock... now got wind and rain... pretty much all showers on the 10 day forecast, but i can now wander off to sprinkle growth promoter on the veg beds in the polytunnel before retiring for the night.
it remains to be seen how living in two places a mile apart will pan out. the ground floor flat in the village is ideal for when we get old and decrepit... small garden (overlooked from half a dozen other houses) within walking distance of the shops etc, and has a landline with broadband but a tad dark , the upstairs flat is brighter but we dont want stairs.  hopefully were 10 years too early organising our declining years .
at the mobile homes weve got freedom to wander arround the acre and a half paddock and garden, with the flat as our postal address/main residence we shouldnt get any hassle from the council about living without planning permission.  but we have a strategy for that if it happens.
 here were on mobile phone broadband... currently with laptops wired to a central router so no wifi signals,  were using a 3network internet with legs sim, its about 40 quid for 24 gig with a 24 month use by period. when thats used up we just buy another cos top ups of the existing card are a silly price and back to x gig valid for 30 days. the landline in the flat is 20 odd quid a month with unlimited broadband. bt wanted over 2k to put up one pole and run  30 yards of cable to the mobile home.
 down the flat weve got our own wifi turned off , using adapters to send the network signal round the mains wiring and logging onto the wifi upstairs when the mrs wants to use her ipad.  theres about 4 neighbours wifi we can pick up, so it aint ideal but could be a damn sight worse.  at the paddock neighbours are far enough away so we dont get their wifi, the phone signal gives faster downloads than we were getting on the landline in the bungalow.
back to weather , the uk winter has been so mild we havnt used any space heating at all this winter.
though did wear a wooly hat whilst watching tv yesterday eve.   more insulation on the mobile homes is pencilled in for late summer.

[nuduke]

Yes, February has been a record for warm weather.  As I recorded elsewhere, I have had some sunbathing in the garden....in February!  Miraculous.  March is back to the usual chilly, rainy norm.  Fingers crossed we'll get another good spring & summer (not forgetting that we had snow in April last year!).
John

[nuduke]

As I remarked elsewhere - we haven't heard from Duane (Eyesup) in a while.  Yoo hoo, Duane, wake up!
John