Truth Or Dare?

Does anyone remember this silly game? Last week, while visiting friends on the Gulf coast of Florida, this activity was part of the evening agenda as we entertained some of our fellow naturists/nudists. As time progressed, it soon evolved into an outright series of "I dare you to..." challenges. Not surprising, in a group comprised of almost a dozen SGL nude men, the taunt was issued: "Swim naked in the pool." The recipient of this particular task was yours truly.

Our rental property isn't clothing optional. It consists of twenty-four units, six per building. Twelve of these have balconies that overlook the pool, which is adjacent to the public beach. Tourists stroll along the beach all hours of the day and night and enjoy a completely unobstructed view of the pool and deck. Bottom line: a free show featuring my family jewels and ASSets!

Receiving this challenge, I stood up, boldly and brazenly (in retrospect: foolishly) walked out the door and proceeded to the pool; nude, except for glasses and jewelry. I have always been a man who reacts, even stupidly, to the word "dare." That four-letter combination has gotten me into trouble all my life.

My challenger grabbed his swimsuit (coward) and my camera and followed me to the pool. Everyone else crowded onto the balcony to witness my feat. Milliseconds after this photo was clicked, I made my dive, defied and surmounted this latest obstacle and again proved my daredevil nature. The fool and his folly became one!

Did anyone walking on the beach see me in all my natural glory? I honestly don't know and could care even less. Will I repeat this reckless stunt in the future? Dare me and find out!

Peace! get naked. Enjoy!

Nude Novice Notes: Natural Urges

Precum emissions and erections have been the source of anxiety for many entering and/or exploring our culture of nudity. Fear of embarrassment is easy to understand; however, it is totally unfounded. Relax. If it happens, it happens. We're gay and nude in the company of naked gay men and this is a completely natural reaction/response. Most of us have experienced the same at one time or another.

Rather than worry and stress over the situation, try the following suggestions and usually the erection subsides. If engaged in a conversation, maintain eye contact and focus on the dialogue. If this occurs at the beach or pool, roll over onto your stomach or dive into the water. Humor can help relieve the tension and also puts people at ease. If comfortable, make a joke of the moment and move on. We all survived spontaneous erections during adolescence and we'll live through this, too.

Look on the bright side: no one can accuse you of erectile dysfunction!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Temporary Insanity

What is it about holidays/vacations that make people do the utterly ridiculous? Remove us from our comfortable and familiar environment and even the most sane among us are prey to moments of absurd antics. It's as though we abandon all dignity, reason and self-control and engage in foolish behavior that we would otherwise avoid. Why publicly display that part of our anatomy that incorrectly rests upon our shoulders?

For example, under normal circumstances, I'd never consider wearing a bunch of bananas on my ass! Would you? Now, exactly which species is the most evolved and the most intelligent?

**

It's good to have a break and to get away from our daily cares and to simply relax. Be ourselves. Be nude. Be content. Be carefree. Be happy. Nice game plan; of course, we all know that theory doesn't always reflect reality. Vacations are no different. Despite the amount of planning and attention to all the smaller details, shit happens. Things go wrong: delayed flights, sick friends, family emergencies, lost luggage, vehicle problems, traffic incidents, boyfriend drama, reservation issues, etc., we all see the probabilities and the list is endless.

Angered? Frustrated? Panicked? Pissed? We probably have all of these emotions (and others) when facing these situations. Yet, this was supposed to be a time for relaxation and rejuvenation! How to cope without a stress attack? We all need to remain creative, flexible and remember to have a Plan B. Honestly, a Plan C isn't such a bad idea, either. The better prepared, the less likely we'll raise the blood pressure off the charts. It's also good to keep in mind that laughter is the best remedy in controlling anxiety. Simply get naked and plant some bananas on your head!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Holiday/Vacation

Taking a break for the next week or so with Twin and Cuz at different locales in Florida. I will return April 27, 2010.

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

April 16: Gay Bloggers: United In Silence

Usually, I post an entry here three times a week: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Not so this week and for a good cause. Friday, April 16, 2010, is the National Day of Silence.

This date is being observed by GLBT bloggers in support of ending the violence, bullying and disrespect directed against our GLBT youth in our nations schools. There will be no entry here on this date. I am uniting with our gay youth and their allies in silence.

The harassment of our same gender loving young people in the schools must stop and the time for this is now! Zero tolerance policies against violence also include our teens. Administrators, parents, peers and teachers should not "look the other way" simply because our youth are "that way." This benign indifference is not acceptable. It is reckless endangerment and a dereliction of duty for those professionally accountable for educating, nurturing and protecting our young people to allow this to happen.

For additional information: GLBT bloggers UNITED in SILENCE! (Facebook page)

Peace! Get naked. Be silent on April 16!

Nude Stimulus Plan

Personally, I think it's an excellent idea. A federal tax credit for naturists/nudists. A great way to boost the economy and to reward those who are being responsible consumers. And exactly who are these responsible consumers? None other than us, the members of the culture of nudity! Why are we responsible consumers? It's simple: we aren't squandering a small fortune on clothes. We don't need to do so. They're useless to us because they aren't compatible with our lifestyle.

We're lowering the balance of payments deficit as we aren't buying these garments that are manufactured abroad. We're likewise supporting fair trade as these textiles are usually produced in sweatshops that pay substandard wages. By allowing us this tax credit, we have more disposable income to spend on other goods/services that have a higher value, durability and are profitable in our domestic market. Reduced trade imbalances strengthen the national financial portfolio and stabilize the stock exchange.

Additionally, we're environmentally-friendly. "Go naked! Go green!" We're significantly eliminating the amount of cleaning detergents from re-entering our dwindling natural resources. We're reducing the quantity of artificial dyes needed. Eradicating these toxins from our eco-system isn't a bad thing. Of course, fewer plastic shopping bags are required to package this merchandise.

Yes, a naturist/nudist tax credit looks good to me! It is simply the right and patriotic thing to do! LOL!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Who's Nude Now?

Obviously, I DEAFinitely am (and no one is surprised)! Apparently, Mother Nature has succumbed to the arrival of Spring and is donning the garments of blossoms. Please keep in mind that I'm not complaining about the return of warmer weather to our area. After the excessive snowfall of this past winter, this frigidphobe is bare-assed delighted with abundant sunlight, longer days and temperate climate!

However, I have also gained an appreciation for the stark beauty of barren nature during winter. Mother Nature is as naked as we are. On those infrequent, moderate-temperature, winter days, the shared nudity between man and nature seems the perfect union. Both are exposed and vulnerable. A moment in time where all may view the harsh reality of our common nakedness and imperfections.

Welcome Spring and all its colorful splendor! Just don't forget the beauty of winter. Be grateful for the departure of freezing temperatures!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Naked? Nude? Both?

When am I naked? When am I nude? Does it even make a difference as long as I'm not wearing any clothes? I know that I'm not the first to have these thoughts and I won't be the last. The more I ask these questions of others, the more curious I become. No two naturists/nudists seem to think alike on this subject.

Personally, when I am home alone, I am naked. Why? There is no one around to share or to witness my nakedness. It's just me and I am naked. Plain and simple: in this state I am pleasing and satisfying only myself. In my humble opinion (whatever it's worth) naked is solo, unobserved.

In a social environment, whether I am the only man nude or in a room packed with clothes-free men, I am nude. Why? There are others around to view and experience my nudity. Men are able to appreciate my natural beauty or to observe and judge my physical imperfections. My body is exposed and on display. My nudity is shared, publicly.

Of course, this line of nudecentric thinking is totally illogical, right? When I am naked in a social group, I am nude to those men around me. So, am I able to be naked and nude simultaneously? Since I choose to be nude, am I also naked? Do any of us really care? Is this even important?

I'm realistic and realize that regardless, the vast majority of us will continue to employ both these terms interchangeably. I'm honest enough to admit that's the case for me. After all, old habits and learned behaviors are the most difficult to break. Most of us will do what we damn well please. That isn't such a bad thing! Whatever works for you! Naked or nude, what matters the most is that we're textile-free and happy!

Am I splitting the proverbial pubic hairs here? Maybe. I know for a fact that some queer naturist/nudist "purists" constantly debate this point. For the rest of us, is the topic even relevant?

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Blog Listings

I've received a couple of emails regarding this topic. I thought a brief explanation, hopefully, will eliminate any lingering confusion. There is a method to my madness here!

First, the "My Blog List" appears under the "Labels" section on the left side of your screen. This list consists of blogs that I review several times each day (at least, Monday through Friday) for their content. This listing is strictly reserved for those sites that are both nudecentric and gay/queer friendly. They are compiled/written by authors that I respect and trust. Their respective views are relevant to our culture of nakedness in general and our queer nudist community specifically.

Second, the "Blogs I Follow" transcontinental superhighway listing (okay, I enjoy nude men)located on my blogger.com profile page are those sites that aren't especially nudecentric but are gay and therefore noteworthy. Again, I have confidence in the authors featured here. The blogs on this list are both intellectually and visually stimulating. The endless profusion of "eye-candy" entries both caters to and satisfies my notorious "sweet tooth!" Feast your eyes on the buffet but don't neglect to expand your mind!

Both lists are equally of interest to me, personally. I hope that you'll feel the same. If you know of a site that should be listed here, please email me! Thanks!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Double Encounters

Last Thursday evening, after arriving back at our hotel room from our respective families, Twin, Cuz and I settled in for a quiet late night. I retired to take a quick shower and went to my bedroom, and retrieved my Sidekick. I was checking emails and messages as I walked into our common living room. I knew that Cuz was ordering late-night snacks from room service. What I didn't know is that they were being delivered at this exact moment.

There I was, standing completely nude except for my Sidekick. The young man delivering looked at Twin, looked at me, then back to Twin and smiled. He looked back into the hallway and took one step inside our room. Directly behind him was his identical twin brother with a cart full of used room service dishes, cutlery, etc.

There is a feeling of connection when sets of identical twins meet publicly and unexpectedly. It's both the acknowledgement and realization of a common bond. The sharing of some unique experience that is lost upon the general population. An affirmation of the fact that we are not alone in this world. It is also the understanding that sometime during our life-span, we have conspired and executed an "identity-prank" on some poor unsuspecting soul(s).

The four of us smiled and exchanged some hastily scribbled notes back and forth (they were both hearing). They returned to their jobs and we turned our attention to the snacks. The odds of this happening are very small, to where I would think almost nonexistent. We've encountered other sets of twins at large gatherings, such as amusement parks, beaches, festivals, sporting events, etc. However, never before in a small setting such as this.

Cuz observed that the situation must be different and more intense for twins than the average person. When questioned, he remarked that throughout the entire episode, none of us appeared uncomfortable with the fact that I was completely nude (both Twin and Cuz were in bathrobes, the others, hotel uniforms). It never occured to me to even attempt to cover up. I failed to recognize myself as the solo nude. Perhaps the twin recognition factor superseded the nudity factor? If the other set noticed this, we'll never know. They didn't react to anything other than the identical twin issue. In retrospect, it may not have been a major concern for either of them. They kept the hallway door wide open the entire time.

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!

Furry Easter Treats

Easter Time, 2010

Every five or six years, both Greek (Orthodox) Easter and American Easter fall on the same date. That is true for this year. Last night, Twin drove here from Philadelphia and in just a few short hours, we'll be on the road to my parents for the holiday. Upon arrival, all thoughts of peace and tranquility disappear. Our family is no different from most other families. Total dysfunction reigns supreme with a generous dosage of love.

The weekend will revolve around church, family and food; which translates into chaos, confusion, dozens of embarrassing pictures and at least someone losing something of value. Of course, that's the reason we have families; so we appreciate the quieter moments in our lives. On Friday, everyone will decorate their individual paschal candle for Saturday's midnight Divine Liturgy. On Saturday, everyone will help dye every available egg bright red (trust, a few will end up with bright red clothes that were originally a completely different color). On Sunday, when not eating, we'll all dance until we drop from exhaustion. The pattern never varies. Would I change anything about this holiday? Never in a million years! Families were created specifically for our Easter amusement.

Twin, Cuz and I have devised our own scheme on how to survive the holidays. We each surrendered our respective childhood bedrooms to the growing tribe of in-laws, nephews and nieces and opted instead to share a hotel room. Our island of tranquility amid the stormy seas where we seek refuge and are free to be blissfully nude. Happy Easter!

Peace! Get naked. Enjoy!