Having talked to many naturists online or face to face over the years, it's my impression that there is no such thing as THE naturist lifestyle, but instead a wide variety of ways people integrate naturism into their lives. For some, it's mainly how they spend their vacations, may it be in naturist resorts, on nudist camping grounds or just by visiting nude/clothing optional beaches. Others are members of landed naturist clubs and enjoy the communty life there, especially on the weekends. There are nude hikers who love to be outside naked in nature. And there are home nudists who only enjoy being naked in their home or they garden - some because they don't feel comfortable to engage in social nudity, some because naturism is not accepted or even illegal in their country.

But very often someone's naturist lifestyle is a mix of the many different aspects mentioned above. I can say that I enjoy visiting nude beaches during my vacations, but that's only one of my interests when I go on a trip. I love exploring cities and visiting historical sites just as much, so pure beach vacations are not something I have done very often.
Instead of being a holiday event, naturism is very much part of my everyday life. I started living naked at home, when I moved into my first own flat after college, and since then wearing clothes at home is limited to the winter months. In the summer, my girlfriend and me spend every sunny weekend at the "FKK" area of our favourite lake, and in the winter we love going to the sauna, where nudity is obligatory as it is common here in Germany. During the last years, I also started hiking naked in the nearby forest, which is always a wonderful experience.

So, how does your naturism look like? How do you enjoy your lifestyle?

I would say that my version of naturism is similar to yours.  My first experience with social naturism was in your country (Germany) and was at a municipal pool while I was stationed in Germany back in the 1970's.  I grew up in a rural area and was lucky enough to secure approximately 4.5 hectares of land when I returned.  This gives me the ability to be nude on much of the property without having to worry about neighbors, a concern here in the US.

In the warmer months I try to be nude as much as possible.  I find it very comfortable and enjoyable.  While my wife is not that enthusiastic about naturism she does not mind that I am nude around the house and property.  As a scuba diver, I am a "legend" at one dive shop in the Caribbean as the "naked diver".  I look at it this way.  We only get one shot at life; we may as well enjoy it as much as we can.

Yes indeed Jonathan and thanks for setting this topic up Walking Skyclad.

I would like to answer this question in two parts.

First. When Anna and I discussed this site we always wanted it to be accessible to the newbie naturist or the type of naturist who only goes naked on a beach while on holiday. Someone who may never consider being naked at home but who likes to hang around their pool villa naked and find a naturist beach while on a two week trip to the coast. This is one of the reasons we wanted to make a major part of the site free to use. We always found the effort of tracking down a beach to use quite a slog and we were always concerned that when we got there we would not find the beach at all or find it and realise that it was not naturist afterall. These naturists may be very much part-timers but if we can help them find a beach or a campsite or holiday venue then that is great and helps protect the lifestyle and its venues. They may never consider joining a club, and may only use their account once a year while looking for beaches, but they may find themselves drawn into conversations, reading a blog or two, making a connection or two and then suddenly thinking "Why not look for a local naturist swimming session." We want to place as many swims, spas, saunas etc into the Inspiration section as possible as well. So those naturists who are going on any trip anywhere may think. "While I am there I am going to arrange an afternoon swim." 

We sort of see ANW as say a restaurant. With locals who pop in for a drink every day, some that eat once or twice a week, then the visitors who come by every now and then but have their place of importance in the scheme of things and who may think I like this place I am coming back more regularly. 

We see every kind of naturist from the once a decade to the every day 24/7 as of value to the lifestyle and of helping it to become more widespread and acceptable.


           

Second then. What about me? To be honest if I could and it was warm enough I just wouldn't own clothes. I would love to live in a world where clothes or lack of them was not an issue. People could take their children to school naked, go to their local park naked....

As the summer comes closer I find myself seldom dressed, and normally at this time of year we dress for the school run only, and undress on return and the boys usually just drop their clothes off at the door - or by the pool.

We find our trips to parks and local pools frustrating as we all find that we don't want to wear swim wear at the pool or clothes at our picnic. We would happily be naked at our local pool if it was allowed, even if ony a few others did. If it was legally accepted then why would we be embarrassed about the other locals we know seeing us? We too like finding places to walk and swim naked in local forests and rivers.

We do very much like to experience touring an area when we travel, but if we can find a way of adding some naturism to the trip we are all the more happy.      

My naturism is very much at home and some areas of my yard with the occasional hiking or camping. I don't think there's a nude beach within 1000 miles of me, so that's not much of an option. I'll occassionally go to a resort, but I usually find them too confining after a day or two. So, if I do go to a resort, it needs to have enough around it to keep me busy. Then I just use the resort as a clothes free hotel.