Although the term has been used occasionally in the past, “Nakations” are popping up more frequently now that Europe and the USA are right in the middle of their summers. Even the Canadians are getting in on the action, eh! According to this article in the Ottawa Citizen:

“There’s nothing more basic and human than being nude in the sun … because that’s being true to who we are,” says Stéphane Deschenes

While nakations are seemingly becoming more commonplace and mainstream, what’s more interesting is the way Deschenes (who runs the Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park northeast of Toronto) went about popularising nudism/naturism to the public:

Deschenes has a website, a blog, a Facebook page and a Twitter feed, and many of the campers he attracts are not lifelong nudists. They’re brand new at being buff.

A well-orchestrated online marketing campaign has helped to recruit a younger generation of nudists — or naturists as they prefer to be called these days — who weren’t around when the movement went mainstream in the ’60s and ’70s, he says.

It’s an interesting article, be sure to check it out on the link above! And remind yourself that we have passed the shortest day of the year and the weather should only be getting warmer from now on!!

We came across this post on the Sunkissed Naturists blog, and noted a comment that we think is quite an insightful observation:

we have heard of people leaving the lifestyle that they had discovered in their 20’s & 30’s, only to pick it up again when the children had grown up.

We found the observation interesting because it would suggest that the nudist lifestyle might actually follow phases or patterns. Very young children certainly have no hang-ups about being nude, but through their teens are highly unlikely to particpate (and even nudist families report the children opting out during early and mid-teens). Then in our 20’s and 30’s we might participate again, at least in the form of home nudism and the occasional skinny dip.

Do we then fall out again? The observations of the writer suggest that nudism tends to have good uptake again in the late 40’s+ age group, particularly with women (at least statistically). In fact, the article noted:

I read with interest a posting to one of the Naturist online forums where a woman involved in the lifestyle made the suggestion that women on reaching 40+ reach a point where they feel a lot less pressure to conform to the airbrushed ideals of the fashion magazines. If they can start to find an easy acceptance of their bodies then armed with this mindset they are ready to discover the full liberation of Naturism.

Interesting to ponder the implications – perhaps nudist communities are never likely to have the cohesion or life-long social associations that you might get with other community groups – we fade in and out depending on our stage in life…

Thoughts?

It would appear Skinbook has annoyed as many people as they have members – with rejection rates somewhere around the 90% range (can’t remember where we read that, but from memory it was 10000 members for every 150000 applicants), it would seem the site is splitting community views!!

So, this article that recently appeared on the Nudiarist site is an interesting analysis of why Skinbook seems to be so popular, and also causing so much angst!!

The problem with Skinbook is that it was founded upon shame, by people who admit to being embarrassed by their nude lifestyles and were uncomfortable on Facebook. 25 year-old co-founder Karl Maddocks also expresses some disgust for “elderly guys in sandals” at a nudist “colony”. Such age discrimination is not only troubling, it’s contrary to all accepted nudist and naturist philosophies. Maddocks also inferred that nudity should be primarily for the young and fit, admitting in a Times interview that “he works out regularly and that part of the joy of stripping off in his twenties is “we’re all going to look crap naked one day”.

Check out the article, well worth the read!!

A little while back (ok, perhaps a year ago) this little site called Skinbook was pointed out to us (we even wrote this post about it soon after). We even tried to set up an account on Skinbook, so this site would have another portal in the global nudist community where the good word could be spread!

But we were rejected, without reason, and no response to our enquiries…

But in an article posted today on The Times Online, it would appear that less than 10% of applicants get through. Interesting stat indeed!!

Check out the article on the link above, and drop us a line if you are a member of Skinbook and want to share your experiences!!

For those who are regulars at the Confab Clothing Optional swim nights, usually held in Collingwood, an alternate trial venue has been proposed and Confab want to gauge interest!!

From the email sent to the Melbourne forum:

Hi all,

Some exciting news to pass on from the Confab team…

We have been looking at numerous venues that could host clothing optional events and have secured the use of one venue as an alternative trial.

This venue is in Castlemaine.

Before going ahead with the Castlemaine venue we need to know who would be interested in attending – basically we need to know approximate numbers to see if it is viable.

It will be a 3pm start and finishing at 6.30pm on Sunday 6th June.

Castlemaine is 120km from CBD, mostly Calder freeway, driving time approx 1.5 – 2hrs.

For those who want to use public transport, a train leaves from Southern Cross at 1:35pm arriving at 2:55pm and departs Castlemaine at 6:45 arriving Southern Cross at 8:30pm, return cost $33.40 or $16.40 conc (includes metropolitan zone 1& 2 travel if pre purchased (see v/line for more info.). Trains leave approx every hour. The venue is a 5 minute walk from the train station.

You can contact us by email at 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ] with requests for car pooling.

We would like the cost of entry not to exceed $10.00 person.

The facility is a quaint older building and includes an indoor heated swimming pool, small spa (not much warmer than the pool), Dry Sauna, an area for massage tables and refreshment tables, Cardiovasular exercise machines, and male / female showers.

If everyone attending could bring something for Afternoon Tea, it would be greatly appreciated.

Please let us know if could be attending, whether it be a yes, no or maybe, by 27 May. If we do not get enough positive responses, to cover the cost of the hire, the event will be canceled. Please respond to 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

Please also remember that ConFab is run completely by volunteers, is not for profit, and all are welcome. – please help spread the word.

We will confirm the event on the 29th May via email to those who have made contact with us at 2010confab [Email address: 2010confab #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

If you are able to get there, and are interested in attending, send the organisers an email ASAP!!