My wife has always supported me as a naturist, but it has only been in the last two years that she has started to join me. What helped was that I found a local club that is clothing optional and I just let her go at her own pace. I even encouraged her to find a very nice sarong to be comfortable. I feel really blessed that she and I can share something like naturism together as a couple. While she isn't 100% ready to be on ANW, she is on her own path so that is music to my ears. 

So I have the same isssue.  My wife seems comfortable that I enjoy naturism but she is not keen to indulge herself.  I would love her to go to the local swim with me, but so far no success.

Overseas, she visits nudist beaches with me, and is cool with me walking about unclothed, but only twice has stripped heself.  Any advice would be great, but I think I will be joining in any social nudity events on my own

It is great that Marc is seeing his wife becoming more receptive to the idea of naturism. 

Thanks for sharing your thoughts Alex there is good news in the fact that your partner is accepting of your naturism, is not against going to naturist beaches and has even tried it a couple of times. Repeated positive experience is a great start. The more we spend time around other naturists and see how they can be trusted and see how they are non judgemental and non pestering then the more we trust naturism. 

Steve and I have always said that we are very happy for respectful non-naturists to use ANW to find out about naturism and maybe find their way into it. That of course goes for the partners of naturists who maybe have questions to share or concerns to confront. So the invitation is there on this topic for example - and maybe I need to consider some specific topics for those new to naturism or not convinced. 

There problem is that every person may have a different reason and those reasons may be perfectly legitimate to them, even if to a naturist they seem incorrect. Steve and I have created this article that confronts the most popular reasons and places them into a context from our point of view: https://www.anaturistworld.com/article/45546/10-poorly-conceived-reasons-for-not-trying-naturism I think this is a good start point for discussion. 

And it is discussion that counts because a naturist forcibly arguing the point will only encourage a more stubborn attitude against naturism from the non naturist. And on the other side if someone is simply dead set against it and refuses point blanck to even talk about it then there is also no hope. 

It seems to me that most members of ANW who have partners who don't choose to be naturists do at least have partners who are not completely blind to the positives of naturism - they sadly just don't want those positives for themselves. I have on occasion, away from ANW, come across people who have said that their partners are hateful about their naturism and do not trust it, and think it is perverse. I cannot help but wonder in those circumstances one of two things - How much does the partner trust the naturist involved? - and  Is that lack of trust justified?  After all if Steve wished to be a naturist and I didn't I would know that he would not want to do it if it was perverse and if I believed it was then what would that say about the way I judged him and his own wants and ideas? 

So to me the best starting point is to have a partner that trusts you and therefore trusts your choices including naturism. After that it is a matter of carefully encouraging them. I really love yoga - why don't you try it with me? That isn't an unfair question to ask. How about painting, cooking, fishing, hiking, tennis etc etc  - so why not naturism? No good reason what so ever. You can throw excuses into the arena - I am not in good enough shape, What would people think if they found out?, I am too old - but they are excuses and not reasons - It isn't for me! Well yes that may be fair enough but have you actually tried it, have you given it a chance? It means a lot to me and it would be wonderful to share it with you. It is adventurous, romantic, fun, healthy, relaxing, it brings you closer together as a couple and yes it is thrilling. 

OK let us get this clear - naturism isn't about sex - that is very true and anyone who thinks it is is wrong and anyone who treats it in a sexual way is damaging the lifestyle and ruining it for others. But it is exhilarating, it is intimate, it is passionate. Being naked with each other on a beach has that emotional link to other more private moments, other moments when you have those connections. Seeing your partner naked on a beach is completely different to seeing anyone else, other people are simply naked strangers - your partner is your loved one, your special naked person and that is unique. I think maybe that gets confused. Some partners may assume that we look at all naked people the same - but it is impossible. 

If we take it to the most basic level - if we lived in a world where nudity was common place - as some cultures did not to long ago - then we would not go around fancying everyone - it would be deranged - we would also not stop being attracted to our partner just because they are always naked. We go beyond that and find that it is the unique connection that counts - beyond nudity - beyond mere physical attraction - naturism awakens that within us - and it is that that we can rediscover as naturist couples. Love, romance and excitement by being with each other without it crossing a sexual line. If we can get our spouses to understand that then how lovely that would be.

So after stripping off a few times myself whilst on holiday my wife stayed covered up and said she felt uncomfortable to go naked. She was quite happy to let me have my skinny dip and have a lounge in the sun and I hoped she may experience that moment when her inhibition may wane but sadly not . I am new to naturism and I am loving the feeling i get when unclothed but I feel that general society have a stigma towards naturism and I don't want my wife to feel uneasy having a naturist husband. Do I try to keep it under wraps so to speak ? Come out as a fully fledged naturist  ? Or just hang fire to our holiday in January when we will be visiting fuerteventura and hope that she will have that 'throw caution to the wind ' moment that I experienced ? Or go back to textile only ? I am in a dilemma .Does anyone have similar experiences in this matter  ?

 ?? Ricky????

Honestly, just be honest. Don't push or have expectations, but be honest about how you feel. Hiding things leads to a dishonest situation that will erode your relationship. You just have to be as open as possible about your feelings. I came to the realization that I was a naturist a few years ago. I spend most of my home time nude. When we travel I am nude when I can be. My wife is loving and supportive. Once she saw how much happier I am this way, she encouraged me to be more so. Occasionally she'll sunbathe nude and we go to clothing optional events and resorts on rare occasion. At those times she will also get nude too, but in her time. I respect that and she respects me. Just be open and honest. She may or may not join you in activity, but for your wellness it's important to try. Respect and honesty are key.