Well it's about time

[dbwvogel]

Hello, folks. I've enjoyed reading through the various forums, and while I don't really expect to be much of a contributor I thought it only mannerly of me to pipe up and announce my presence. You seem like an eclectic and wise bunch of nudies with a wide range of social and political opinions - very interesting - but you keep the forum clean and respectful: kudos! I'm somewhat more active over on the naturist-christians.org site, so you can see more of me there, but here's a snapshot:

I live in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley with my wife and two of our kids, 16 and 17 (almost 18). The eldest is in college and frequently calls me for help with technical issues, or my wife for relationship issues. I'm a Christian and a theatre artist and educator - been teaching at the University level for about 20 years, designing for 30 years. Age 53, I have yet to visit a nudist/naturist venue or a clothing optional beach, but I'm the sort that tries to live live "as nude as practical, as much as possible." Favorite ventures include freehiking on the national forest and national park trails in our area - we got some great hikes out here, with the occasional mountain stream pool for a quick dip. My wife, while quite supportive of my predilections and joining me on our hikes, is pretty securely textile. My kids are relatively patient with me. I also enjoy water sports, having grown up in northern Minnesota on the water. My avatar is me doing roofing repair (a summer gig) on a chicken house. Glad to have accommodating colleagues!

Ask if you want to know more. Please don't be offended if I don't post often; we lurkers might seem creepy, but sometimes we're just trying to keep it all together.

[Safebare]

Welcome David, and thanks for the detailed introduction.  All kinds of people pass through this portal, some much more engaged in the process than others.  This group is very encouraging to 'get out there'.  The priority is comfort.  So, post as much as you feel comfortable.  Hopefully, the forum will inspire you to new activities and maybe some experience sharing.

~Safebare

[Greenbare Woods]

Hello David. 
Nice to meet you.  Having a non-supportive wive is much too common.  Keep having fun and share a story or two when you get  chance.

Bob

[eyesup]

Welcome David.

I am of the same faith and have browsed the naturist-christians.org site, but not joined as a member. And I was a lurker on the old TSNS site for a while before joining there, but I think that is probably more common than not. It took me a while to work up the nerve to jump in.

My wife also supports my naked rambling but doesn’t participate. She has been with me on several hikes but has yet to join in. I was on a hike once out near Cima, CA. On the trip down I had managed to get her to agree to at least give a topless hike a try. I was happy that she would finally get the opportunity to experience what I had.

It didn’t work out that day but she had at least agreed to it in principle. So there is still a chance.

We were recently in Cumberland Gap and while walking through ‘the gap’ I was sorely tempted to do it au naturel. It had been raining off and on and the trails were not busy. We left the Kentucky side and hiked over into Virginia without seeing anyone. On the way back the cool damp forest was inviting, although poison ivy was everywhere, it was so quiet because of the rain. Not being at all familiar with the area, I wimped out. The trail was once called “The Wilderness Trail”, but it’s no longer a wilderness. It’s a tourist area now.

But walking on that historic trail was a treat.

Duane

[JOhnGw]

It's a big jump from agreeing in principle to actually doing stripping off.
At least you're in with a chance.

[dbwvogel]

It's a big jump from agreeing in principle to actually doing stripping off.
At least you're in with a chance.

Agreed. Actually, I had a moment similar to the one Duane related, with a slightly different course: on a hot day in the George Washington National Forest, we hadn't seen anyone at all for the two hours we had been on the trail, me nude for all but the first 15 minutes (in the most popular section); my wife stripped off her top, and kept it off for about five minutes before the stress of worry made her put it back on. She still worries with just my nudity, because of possible repercussions at our work if I ended up with legal trouble. She's a ways off from joining me, even if in principle she agrees that nude living is better.

[nuduke]

Hi David


Nice to welcome you to posting on the forum.  I think we have several regular friends who just read but don't post.  It's always good to get fresh opinion and thoughts.  For instance:

"as nude as practical, as much as possible."

Excellent motto!  I shall adopt it!


John

[eyesup]

She's a ways off from joining me, even if in principle she agrees that nude living is better.

On the time where my wife agreed to give a topless hike a try I honestly believe she would have done it had the events been as expected. We arrived at the trail head one I had been to numerous times before when it was deserted. That’s why I managed to convince her to give it a try. On arrival there were a couple of Econo-line vans parked there. A botany class from a community college in Southern California was there on a field trip. Murphy’s Law at work.

We did the hike dressed as all the young botanists were. We had a very pleasant conversation with the professor about desert plants. Not the hike that I had hoped for.

Here are a few photos of what the Cima site looks like. You can see why I wanted to hike there.

A Joshua Tree forest	Mountains to the southwest	Scattered rock formations

On the same trip we stopped at the cinder cone in a dry lake bed near Amboy, CA. Basically the same thang! Too many people trudging around on a lava field to go on a natural hike. Very interesting landscape, though. But a frustrating trip! I would like to try both sites again, maybe I should pick a day of unpleasant weather that would keep the tourists away.

Walking along the rim	Said lava field	Life hangs on in lava field

Duane

[jbeegoode]

DF did a couple of topfree hikes...then she met me! I believe that those that have hikes topfree can appreciate the wholeness of hiking nude, they are open to it, although some reluctance, and they will take to it like a duck to water. They will certainly go for a romantic place far from others, then they will be hooked and evolve.
Jbee

[eyesup]

I believe that those that have hikes topfree can appreciate the wholeness of hiking nude, they are open to it, although some reluctance, and they will take to it like a duck to water. They will certainly go for a romantic place far from others, then they will be hooked and evolve.

This is what I was hoping for at the time. I will try again.

Duane

[nuduke]

Here are a few photos of what the Cima site looks like. You can see why I wanted to hike there.

I certainly can, Duane.  What a wide, flat, bleak and unforgiving place yet fascinating geology and biology and yet welcoming in the sunshine!
Really enjoyed those pics.
John