For some of us, our first naturist experience wasn't a spur-of-the-moment action but something we'd wanted to do for a long time - quite a few years in my case!  I'd always enjoyed nudity but I think I became aware that there was such a thing as a naturist beach or club in my very early teens, i.e. the 70s.  I watched at least one TV programme about naturist clubs and swims, which presented the subject in a very down-to-earth way, as a wholesome kind of recreation or social activity.  I read about a place called South Hants Sun Club, not far from Portsmouth where I live (sadly no longer a naturist site).  Also, living here I often went to Southsea Beach with my mum and dad and at some point noticed naturists on the beach at Eastney.
  
Another thing that really inspired me to want to become a naturist was the film Castaway with Amanda Donohoe and Oliver Reed.  I couldn't imagine anything more wonderful than running around naked on a sandy beach on a tropical island  :-)  The fact that Amanda Donohoe was involved might have been a factor...
  
Anyway, I think I first took the plunge in about 1990, on Eastney Naturist Beach, and it felt very natural very quickly.
  
What kind of things inspired your love of naturism?  Or was it for you a completely spontaneous thing that you'd not wanted to do before?

Thanks for sharing John - I look forward to reading how others were inspired into naturism. This topic to me seems not so much like sharing first time as a naturist stories but more about where that initial interest was first sparked that would then lead you down the path of that first naturist experience. Though of course for some - those that simply stumble onto a beach and then try it - the story and the inpsitration may be one and the same.

I will enjoy reading others member's interpretations. 

Although I wanted to try naturism to face the fears I had with my body - an earlier inspiration that really stayed with me was seeing extended German families having Sunday picnics on the lakeside in Berlin. Seeing grandparents, aunts and uncles, mum and dads and brothers and sisters all sitting so innocently naked together cuddling babies, playing games, chatting and eating was something I still remember as completely awesome over 35 years on. 

I do remember seeing the Lets Go Naked 1979 documentary when I was a child. I watched it by myself while I was home alone (about 10 years old) I remember thinking it seemed all rather harmless - TV seems more cool about nudity back then. My family were certainly not naturists but I never rember considering naturism as something that was perverse. Simply something that some people and families chose to do - and my family didn't. Like eating white or brown bread, watching BBC or ITV, going to church or not, holidaying abroad or in the UK, watched soaps or didn't etc. Naturism always seemed purely an option nothing more or less.   

I did enjoy Castaway with Reed and Donahoe and I have always thought that any desert island film that does not prtray the hero spending most of the time naked is not portraying reality. Who wouldn't discard their clothes if alone on an island in the sun? 

Good morning. 

I never grew up fearing naturism or concerned about it. As mentioned previously there was a old man who used to cycle around my village naked and no one cared. 

Although it seemed harmless enough I never considered it for myself. When I went abroad I never considered being topless. I never felt comfortable about being naked around others and so never was. I didn't think it was wrong for others to but just not right for me. I went to a few festivals and would see some naked and topless but once again had no want to join them. I think a lot of it was to do with my place in the world and with the people I knew. Childhood abuse and awkward relationships with family and boyfriends was not going to encourage me to want to be naked in a social, intimate and friendly setting. I cannot remember a time when I was naked in front of anyone in my adult life - there was always physical barriers of one form or another. Locked doors, towels, bedding, clothing, underwear, sleepwear.

So for me the main inspiration was Steve. As soon as I met him I felt comfortable within myself and for the first time felt comfortable being naked in front of another human being and allowed nudity to be part of our life together, around the home and garden. When he suggested we tried naturism in a public setting. That was my inspiration. Simple as that.

I guess - for me at least - I had to find a comfort within before I could find a comfort without. Naturism is often considered great for confidence - but you still have to find a level of confidence before you can try it. Trust, Faith and Belief: In yourself, those around you and the circumstances you are in. 

I have thought about this quite a bit and the short answer is ...... other naturists. Not wearing clothes always seemed like quite a good idea but it turned into a very good idea when I started meeting others that thought the same. It was utterly normal and rather pleasant. 'Should have done it years ago' is a phrase that I have heard on more than one occasion and it applies equally to me. 

Like Steve , I remember watching Lets Go Naked ( at about the same age) and although I also did not grow up in a naturist household , the concept of doing normal things nude didnt seem odd and actually looked rather fun. Even for all of my non naturist life ( which is the majority of my life) I think the memory of that programme was in the back of my head somewhere.

Anna, your quote " Naturism is often considered great for confidence - but you still have to find a level of confidence to try it " is absolutely spot on.