Recently a situation came up that enforced my idea that being open and honest about nudism can only enhance ones experience.  We live in a rural area of the southwestern USA.  We have 20 acres that was almost totally forested and our nearest neighbor is about 1.3 Km and through the trees.  A young couple owned the place adjacent to ours and we had talked with them a few times over the years but did not see them very often.  I had a nice 1.4 Km trail cut through the woods and could easily hike it nude.  In fact the members of our local naturists club loved to visit us and use the trail for a secluded hiking experience.  

Anyway, to my dismay, a wild fire came through and burned 16 of our 20 acres.  We were looking over our damages and the young couple next door told us that their entire structures had burned to the ground.  As we talked I mentioned that my trail was no longer there and that I was a nudist and would really miss it.  The young woman said, "We are nudists too!"  We had known this couple for over 15 years and neither of us told the others.  Now they have relocated and we are doing without a trail.

This Spring, we were traveling in Mexico and were staying at an RV park on the beach.  Due to the pandemic there were few tourists and only 3 rigs were at the park--one couple we were traveling with and another from Canada.  We did the normal camping conversations but that was about it until one afternoon I was talking with the Canadian woman and mentioned that I loved the park because the beach was deserted for miles and that I was a nudist and liked to walk the beach naked.  She stuck out her hand and said they were also nudists and did exactly what I did.  They were leaving the next day but delayed their departure so we could have a couple of nude walks together.  

I am thinking that the advantages of letting others know about your nudism outweigh the disadvantages and we should make an effort to do that.

Don thanks for creating this topic. 

If anyone is interested in looking at or sharing tips for bring up the idea of naturism to others do check out this topic https://www.anaturistworld.com/forums/topic/71/telling-others-that-you-are-a-naturist.

I think it is very important to share and be honest about naturism- and you just don't know - your best friend may be a naturist and trying to find a way to tell you. 

When we told my mother and her husband - they were skeptical at first but after listening become very positive about it. My mother is someone who protect her whole sensitive skinned body from the sun but she did end up skinny dipping with me in a pool late one afternoon. Her husband just loved the idea behind naturism and after showing a little nerves joined us on regular occasions when visiting us in Spain - he thought naturism was brilliant. 

Of course it also meant that we were able to be relaxed about being naked when we visited them or they visited us - so that was a big bonus - as it is always a slight pain to be covered so not to place guests out of their comfort zone. By being honest you hopefully allow yourself more time as a naturist - and that has to be a good thing, you may mnake naturist friends and that is great, and you may convert some people to either understand or better still try naturism for themselves. It seems a win win situation. 

On the negative side you may have people think you are a pervert or an oddball - but if they are that judgemental does there opion really matter?   

As we have written in quite a few of our blogs, we do not hide it, but neither do we advertise it. Those who know us, all know, including our families. Rin still is not comfortable with Robs dad, which makes him laugh, but he undrstands. It is probably that parent idea we all foster as young people, and so the idea of getting out your Va jay Jay in front of his dad bothers her a little. (Sniggers) Rin's sister is a regular visitor, she loves it, although her husband who is very old school is uncomfortable with her doing so, although from what we can gather, he secretly watches a lot of porn, so that just about informs us of his mindset. 

Our neighbours one side of of us live naked indoors, they have not made it outdoors yet, but they are cool with us, Rob always jokes with them if he has to go round and asks. "Oh God, do i have to wear pants?" It is fun at times.

The way we work, id if we feel a good level of comfort with someone, we usually slip in a few comments, such as we have done WNBR, it always gets a conversation going, which ends up with people knowing we are naturists, and we always add, if they are uncomfortable, Rob will wear pants. lol. Most people close tpo us know our home is clothing optional, half our friends preffer to see us dressed, others are aware they will encounter nudity and are fine with that, we never pressure others to do it, as we feel, if they want to, they know our home is safe to try. 

Hi Guys,
I completely agree with your comments.  Trying to "force" someone to your way of living or thinking is a no-win situation.  I think there can be 2 "rights" and that one size will never fit all.  However, if there is a lack of tolerance then I start to draw the line and disagree.  
I know a couple who are really died-in-the-wool nudists but refuse to tell their adult children about it.  Go figure.

I think it is a mistake to "demand" our rights and try to be nude in public places just to prove a point.  That is why I would really like to see more beaches, parks and trails with C/O designations approved by the local governing authority.  If it is well known that an area is C/O the public can make an informed decision whether to visit or not.  They will know what to expect and not be surprised to see naked people doing interesting things like treking.

I have always been clothed when our housekeeper comes around every two weeks but recently have talked with her about it and she said she would be comfortable with my nudity especially with these hot days we are having now.  You just never know how someone will react until you talk with them about it.  Our FedEX delivery person and I have had some very good conversations about nudity and she told me that it is the most normal thing in the world and that she gets naked as soon as she can when work is over.  She also is not embarassed when she finds that I am outside naked.

Thankss for your comments.  I appreciate your opinions.

Many of the comments here come on a day when I just happened to hear a story on a local talk radio program that fits right in.  It seems a Florida couple, being 'true naturists,' (term used in the story), are consistently naked on their property, to the degree that they even do things in the front of the house, such as mowing the lawn and working on the car, also naked.

The story goes, that the neighbors called the police to complain about the blatant nudity being exposed to the neighborhood children.  After the police came and talked to the naturist couple, which occurred on the front porch of the residence and while the couple was still naked, the police then contacted the callers and told them that nudity on one's own property is not illegal and that as long as they were not committing acts that could be construed as lewd or suggestive, they were free to be naked on their own property.

The radio program played a blurb from an interview with the neighbors, wherein the woman said that she really had no problem with this couple being nudists; she just wished they would exercise a little more courtesy for the rest of the neighborhood. She also expressed curiosity as to whether the couple in question were really that dedicated to naturism or if they just enjoyed getting people worked-up.

To their credit, the hosts of the radio program were in agreement that how people dress or undress on their own property should not be questioned; while at the same time they agreed that the naturist couple, exercising their legal freedom, might be bringing undue criticism of the lifestyle by their boldness and seeming disregard for the sensitivity of others.

I was happy to hear the well-balanced approach from people who, by their own declaration on the radio, were not inclined to enjoy the naturist lifestyle themselves. 

I also agree the above comments.  If we are willing, when afforded the opportunity, to just be straight-forward with people and tell them about our own comfort zone, I believe most people would either surprise us with their openness and/or make it clear that they understand but could not 'go there' themselves, or they would declare us weirdos and perverts.  But think about it; if you've developed any sort of friendly relationship with another person, their finding that out about you may be a revelation but it is not likely to be the tidbit that makes them do a complete flip-flop in their opinion of you. 

By the same token, if some casual acquaintance deems you to be a weirdo or a pervert for which they shun you and you know that you are not, who is really missing out in that scenario?  
  If they share that they are also nudists or assure you that your nudity is fine with them, or even show a budding interest in the subject, then perhaps you've made a friend or at least helped someone else consider that it might be something they'd like to pursue.