Written in 2002
As Bill Cosby once famously said, "I started out as a child." Although I have no direct recollection of this, apparently I used to streak my neighborhood when I was three or four years old. This, of course, amused my parents, but also persuaded them to get my clothes back on. And from that point forward, I lived life much as any other textile-bound child, though an intelligent and curious sort.
That curiosity was what eventually tipped me off to the idea of naturism. One day, while researching a high school project in the voluminous stacks of the University of Virginia's Alderman Library, I happened upon a book that had been left on the wrong shelf. The title was _Among The Nudists_, and the authors were Frances and Mason Merrill. Released sometime in the 1930s, it talked about their experiences with the German _Freikörperkultur_ of the time; what eventually became naturism, as we know it today.
Now, I was really curious here. See, I had heard rumors about these theoretical places called "nudist colonies" where people wore no clothes. But I had never found any actual evidence of these "colonies" until this book. I forgot about my class research and read the book. Cover to cover. And *wham,* it hit me. It all made sense. There was more to this "nudism" than I had ever thought.
But, at this point, I was still in high school, and aside from my girlfriend, who thought the idea was way cool, I knew no one else who I thought would understand my new interest, and had no real opportunity to pursue it, still living at home. So it lay dormant for a while.
A few years later, I found myself in junior college in western North Carolina, a beautiful, mountainous region with no end of outdoor recreation opportunities. I had also become aware of The Naturist Society, and joined. With no naturist groups or clubs nearby at the time, it became clear I'd have to have my first naturist experience on my own. Fortunately, I had that beautiful, mountainous backyard just a few miles out of town. One particularly nice day, I decided it was time. I got in my car, drove a few miles up the mountain into the Pisgah National Forest, and stopped near a trail I had previously discovered. This trail led back about a quarter mile or so to a particularly nice and secluded swimming hole.
So there I was, at the nice, secluded, fairly remote swimming hole, worrying what would happen if I took my clothes off. After deciding that (a) not only was I far enough out that few people could find me, and (b) if anyone did find me, get offended, and go find a ranger, I could be out of there before they got back... I did it. Still nervous and shaking, I slipped out of my clothes, and jumped into the swimming hole.
Wow. I knew ahead of time that this swimming hole was scenic and secluded. I had forgotten that mountain water is *very cold.* I was no longer shaking due to nervousness, I was shaking due to being submerged in cold water! But, after a few minutes, I warmed to the idea of being nude in a cold mountain swimming hole... literally, and figuratively. This was great! Wow! I suddenly wanted to tell the whole world...
Except I didn't. Because I didn't think anyone would understand. My new friends at college probably wouldn't understand. I definitely didn't think my parents back home would understand. After all, what do you say to someone who's decided he likes taking his clothes off? (Especially someone who was still in the process of making new friends at school and didn't want people to think he was "weird"?)
Well, a few years later, after leaving junior college and transferring to a four-year university, I happened upon the Internet and its naturist forums. And I was exposed to a whole world of people who were not only happy to be naturists, they were happy to tell everyone else on the Internet, and perhaps everyone else off the Internet too. I knew if they could do it, and not suffer, then I could do it. And thus began a gradual process of "coming out of the closet" as a naturist. It started with a few close friends whom I trusted. When they didn't shun me for being a freak, I moved on to other friends. And fellow Internet readers. And even some of my coworkers. But I still hadn't told my family.
As an Internet professional, I often tell people never to say anything on the Internet that you're not prepared to defend later, because you never know who's reading. Like a potential employer, or someone who wants to hurt you, or your own mother. I probably should have known that my mother, who adores her children, would find the web page where I talked about being a naturist. And thus, I inadvertently "outed" myself to my parents. Oops! As it turned out, I needn't have worried about their reaction; they were supportive, as they always are of their kids. My last hurdle was crossed!
And that brings me to where I am now: proud to be a naturist, and unafraid and unashamed to let the world know about it. Was it easy? No, it took a long time and a lot of growing up. Was it worth it? Definitely! I can't imagine ever going back.
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Next: An Open Letter From A Naturist To New Friends
Copyright 2002 Mark Cornick. This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.