As previously posted under the "Factory Farmed Naturism" section I was asked to do a "big" favor for an old friend by helping her move her RV caravan) from the nudist campground where she had been a member for a number of years. Just some back round; it was one of my wife's oops moments when she said something about my tendency to be nude when it was revealed that she was a nudist and belonged to the resort. Back to the story, of course I agreed and plans were made with dates and times.
The night before I admit there was not much sleep with the anticipation that I would be able to work naked for the next few days and not have to look over my shoulder for textiles. As much as I wanted to just drive there nude a stop at McDonald's drive through plus I didn't know how the staff at the resort would accept a naked man pulling up to the gate. Things were taken care of so to speak, all I needed to do was show my ID and was met at the gate by our friend. She jumped into my vehicle and directed me to her camper and soon I was disrobed with tools on hand. It seemed we were soon surrounded by members, some of whom had put dibs on various parts of the deck so I began the dismantling with care to preserve the railing and the decking boards. And is it was taken apart others hauled it away for use at their own campers.
So then the conversations started. "Your so comfortable nude why aren't you a member here?" , What do you mean your a Free Range Naturist?", "Have you ever been caught?", "Has anyone ever called the police?" , "Where do you go?" , "OMG, we have had family picnics at that park!" and "You have actually camped naked at a State Park?". Answers were as best as I could with both the free range aspect plus the stealth learned from years of experience. Overall the feeling I got was that most would rather remain in the safety of the fence plus on the outside who would know your not a perverted person instead of a naturist?
When we broke for lunch I got to survey the crowd, at least the few that were there. All but a few were retired, most of the families only show up on weekends now that school is in session and it seemed that the wives enjoyed the security of the resort. Although there was some curiosity as to how I pick the trails to hike nude on and where I go to kayak naked. As for skinny dipping most admitted to either having a backyard pool or knowing of that secluded place.
After lunch it was all business as the decking boards were a little more difficult to take up. Going through a number of bits plus draining the batteries on the drill it was time to call it a day. So I headed to the shower house to wash up before relaxing my bones in the hot tub. Overheated a quick dip in the pool and a chance to air dry before supper. That's when I got the full story of her leaving, mostly financial but also some problems with the other residents there. She even mentioned boredom as it seemed it was the same thing every day; breakfast, clean the camper, lay out at the pool, lunch, walk around and visit some before going back to the pool, supper then sit around the campfire with a bottle of wine. She admitted that I have the best of both worlds; travel and see new things plus being able to enjoy being naked. The rest of the night was spent discussing the medical scare, our trips this summer, winter in Florida plus her work, life and well being. It was not long after that I fell asleep on the couch and remember nothing until morning.
I was awakened by the sound of golf carts, obviously waiting for me to get started removing the rest of the decking. So coffee in hand I got the drills ready as my host announced a breakfast run and headed to her car. She soon returned with breakfast sandwiches so eating as I worked waiting on that second pot of coffee. With the decking gone it was time to tackle the floor joists when the manager of the park drove up and asked if the RV could be towed out without removing any more. I was a little concerned as it left little room for error but I could take down the sections nearest to the camper and leave the rest. He mentioned the new tenants would have liked to have the deck intact but understood why we were removing it. When he left my friend said, "See what I told you, too stuck up to come and ask me. I might have wanted money or something?". But that made life easier on me and by lunch we were ready to move it out!
In the meantime a few of the residents came by to wish her well and thank me for helping her get things ready. Once the camper was connected to my vehicle we were ready to tow it to a local dealer where it would be sold on consignment. There were a few teary eyes as I reluctantly got dressed before leaving, followed by hugs all around and invitations to visit anytime.
So is naturism in decline; maybe the Factory Farm but that may be in part to economics. How do you provide for an ever changing demographic? It seemed that few that remained so late in the season felt at ease just riding around on golf carts, swimming at the pool or walking the trails. Wifi was spotty, as could be expected except at the clubhouse. I could only imagine a bunch of teens with their devices! I saw no one on the volleyball, tennis or basketball courts but that is an unfair assessment considering the population there at the time.
I was encouraged to see the postings after mine on the resurgence of naturism in France. If only the same kind of movement would take hold here in the States. However, I wonder if the seed has been planted and a few more will take the plunge into Free Range!