When did you first come across naturism. Were you born into it, were you a child or an adult? Was it at home, a beach, a club or somewhere more unusual?

I posted this message on the old NFN Forum of the same topic.  I think it could be of interest to new members here.

My sister and I grew up in a nudist home in the eastern part of San Diego, CA.  Our parents had
discovered the joy and positive benefits of social nudism during their college years in the
early 1950s and became part time nudists. Moving from Chicago to San Diego allowed them extend
their nude time to an almost full time state.

They were very dedicated to our upbringing and were always there for us even though they were
both busy building their professional careers.  They felt that it was important to teach us
wholesome family nudist values.  We learned that nudity was normal and being nudists was not
about being naked but being free to wear or not wear what ever we wanted whenever it was
appropriate.  Nudity was never mandatory but it was the norm.

In about 1960 when I was about 8 and my sister 11 they decided that we would become a full time
nudist family, both at home and socially.  And for the most part our friends would be from other
nudist families.

They went to great lengths to befriend families with kids our age and these family friendly
camps provided a good opportunity for that.  They sought out families that had conservative
ideals and attitudes that mirrored or complimented their own.

Eventually we became friends with a couple of other local families and were able to have nude
events at home and at other peoples’ homes.  In fact I met my wife as a child at a nudist camp
and we have enjoyed nude living ever since.

My earliest experience with naturism was skinny dipping in the family pool in the 1960's.  I and my brother had found someone's stash of naturist magazines in our woods (my parents had 30 acres) and besides the thrill of seeing naked bodies I found the entire concept intriguing.  I pestered my parents about it and just one time they relented and my father, my brother and sister and me were all in our pool nude.  I don't think my father had any problem with it but I suspect my mother told him "that's it" because it was never repeated.  I however was allowed to skinny dip whenever I was in the pool by myself.

A postscript.  Years later I learned that my parents had gone to a local naturist resort to deliver a mirror (we were in the glass business) at a time that my brother and I were on a weekend trip with my grandparents.  They had my sister (all of about 3-4) in tow at the time.  I suspect my mother didn't want to have us there because she must have feared we would like the concept.  What might have been . . .

I always enjoyed being nude when I had the house to myself as a child. I always remember being aware of naturism and being intrigued by it, and being aware of the occasional nude person when on holiday on the Mediterranean.

My first real encounter of what social nudity could hold fro those that readily embrace it was when I was 17-ish and was in Berlin. I would see four/five generation familys from baby to ancient granny sharing Sunday picnics in the nude by the side of lakes.  Totally happy and at each with each other. Although I was someone who feared my own nudity at the time I could see that this was wonderful and envied these families their attitude towards their bodies and each other. I never thought I could ever be like that but wished I could.   

I was on a Boy Scout camp out at Sandy Hook, NJ in the late 1980's and heard a rumor there was a nude beach nearby. I decided to explore and found Gunnison Beach about a mile away. I was amazed by the hundreds of people enjoying the beach without bathing suits with an excellent view of New York City across the bay. When I could later drive, I returned with a friend and got naked in public for the first time.  It felt great swimming and laying in the sun and I was hooked.