NothingToDread.com

Wow, this is exciting. After years, months, days, hours, of surfing the web, visiting club, and exploring my inner nudist, I've decided it's time for me to join. Where do I sign?...

I got lazy... too lazy... I've been so focused on the simple act of survival that like many adults, I gradually drifted away from many activities that I truly enjoy. Sure, I still find time to ride my bicycle... closing in on my first 10,000 miles as a matter of fact..., but It's been far too long since I've spent some quality time nude in the great outdoors. My tan lines are now beyond ridiculous. Maybe I'll post some photos later.

hmmmm... most of the websites, clubs, and literature I've read have that AANR logo. American Association for Nude Recreation... maybe I should start there...

So, I decided it's time to get proactive. Time to start packing up the wife, cooler, towels, sun screen, etc., and take advantage of some of the wonderful clothes free opportunities that Southern California has to offer at least two days a month. With that in mind, I also decided that it wouldn't be a bad idea to restore some of my long lapsed memberships and take advantage of the benefits and discounts that membership has to offer. Yes, that's right, it's a shame to say, but I haven't been a member of any local or national nudist associations or clubs for over a decade.

http://www.aanr.com... Ok, let's see... here it is. American Association for Nude Recreation. Nice site... smiling people. Nakation? Need to check that out... ah, there's the link Join or Renew Membership...

I decided to start with AANR. Perhaps next month I'll budget for TNS (More on that later). Membership in AANR (Back when it was still known as ASA) came as part of the package when I joined my first landed club back in the early 90s. Whether valid, or not, I have some recollection that while non-affiliated memberships (I believe that's how they referred to members who did not belong to local clubs) were available, such members carried a certain stigma of illegitimacy. I suppose the idea was that your local chapter could vouch for you in a pinch. I suppose it makes sense. At some point I moved far enough away from that local club, and as my membership there lapsed, so went my AANR membership. I always figured that I'd renew once I found a club to call home, but... well... you know... I've been busy.

Wow, so many choices... Ouch, $3,100 for something called Dual Elite Life Membership... wow, not sure I'd go that route even if I was eligible. At least not today. Maybe the "Associate Membership" tier is more appropriate for me. Dual vs. Individual? Ok, one is for couples and families, while the other is for singles. I get that... $57.00 vs. $91.50 a year? What happens if I just buy an individual membership? Won't my wife still get the 20% discount and my copy of "The Bulletin"? I know what they get for the $34.50, an extra $34.50, but what do I get? Satisfaction? Great... now that song is stuck in my head.

"Back in the day", AANR's monthly news... letter... magazine... paper? What the hell, I'll call it a magazine that looked like a news paper... The Bulletin was my primary portal into the world of nudism outside my little 75 mile radius. Sure, I had access to dial up bulletin board systems, and some discussions on AOL, Prodigy, Compuserve, etc, but The Bulletin was the most polished source of information that I received on a regular basis. Today the internet provides countless sources of information on a virtually realtime basis.

Ok, $91.50 a year for the Dual Associate Membership.. why take chances... what the hell, AANR needs my support so an extra $34.50 is the least I can do, right? Add to cart and on to the checkout screen. OK... a little demographic survey, but all they really require is my name, address and title information. Of course, billing info will probably come on the next screen. Hmmm... do I really want to receive The Bulletin? How does it show up at my door? Will the mail man see it and gossip with the neighbors? What about the children, roommates, neighbors and friends dropping by while I check the mail? No opt out option...?

I didn't bother looking up my old membership number. Even if a record of my membership was still available after all these years, I doubted that there'd be any benefit to attempting to revive the number. As I worked my way through the options at aanr.com, I started thinking like the new applicant that I'd essentially become. I remember the bulletin as the primary source of communication that I received from AANR in the 90s. I remember it arriving in a discrete and safe for work white envelope. The AANR logo raised some questions in my mind. What would be printed on the envelopes I received in the mail? Simply AANR, or will the words NUDE RECREATION be as prominently displayed on the envelopes as they are on the ANNR.com website? This raised the question, "Would a privacy conscious prospective member continue beyond this point"? I also started thinking about The Bulletin itself. Like many Americans, I've been moving away from paper in favor of electronic sources of information. I already view the view hardcopy magazines I receive as little more than clutter around the house; especially, when full electronic versions are available online. I thought of the stacks of back issues of The Bulletin that I already have stored away. Had there been an option to opt out of receiving the bulletin available during the sign up process at AANR.com, I probably would have taken it. A lot has changed over the course of the past decade. I'm a bit disappointed that AANR hasn't completely kept up with those changes.

Maybe I shouldn't... oh, what the hell... I'll sign up now, and I'm sure I can do something about the mailings if they become an issue. Rent a mailbox near the office? Oh hell, I don't know. Ok, here's the billing information... two weeks for delivery via US Shipping... I guess that's when they'll mail my physical membership card. They'll probably give me a membership number when I complete my purchase. Probably in the confirmation email when I'm done...

Thinking less like a new member than as a long time internet user, I was more than a little annoyed by the conclusion of my transaction. I can't think of an occasion, prior to purchasing a AANR membership online, when I haven't received some sort of account, membership, or user license number within hours of purchasing a membership online. I expected to see my membership number on my confirmation page, or at least in one of the three email messages I received following my account creation and membership purchase. Instead, I received one message advising me that I'd created a profile, another that it had been modified (during the creation process), and an electronic invoice indicating that I'd purchased a membership. No doubt the same communications I would have received had I purchased a towel.

Ok... they've had my credit card number and application for over 20 hours. What, no welcome message, membership number, description of member benefits, access to the forums, member discounts at the online store? Nothing? Will I really have to wait for the USPS before I can enjoy ANY benefits of membership? I'm starting to think that this organization sucks.

It's bad enough that I've found myself surrounded by fanatics, pornographers, and a fringe element that includes the screwed, blued, and tattooed; write what you will, but my hairy naked ass has chosen to stay the hell away from politics and all things political.

It's a crying shame that I don't write more about sex! Hell, it's a crying shame that I haven't been having nearly enough of the kind of sex worth sharing with the world. I'm not talking about a middle aged grunt and grown groan (Typos are par for the course around here.... get used to it). I'm talking about the kind of sex that not only makes you wake up wondering what the hell happened, but who brought the Italian... linguist. Yea, I said linguist. If you thought I meant something else... now that's what I'm talking about. That's what I wanted to hear. Keep a civil tongue in the lass and nobody will get hurt.

Someone suggested that I write something about the president and presidential reforms... I'll cover presidential reforms when he reforms the national dress code, morals, and standards eliminating puritanical constraints and the general national phobia regarding the North American hairy nudist ass. I'd rather write about nudity... sexual, non-sexual, any nudity you have... the bare naked truth. You won't find a lot of treaty truth (What the hell did I mean by treaty? Freudian graft of truth and reality?), naked or otherwise, in politics unless its embroiled in a scandal. I for one vote for an all nude joint session of congress. That would take the pompous asses down a notch or two. Hell, that almost got political.

I was recently imagining a utopia (That evasive nowhere land of myth and legend) when all people could be treated as sensual beings... A little tease wouldn't necessarily lead to intercourse, jealousy, or fear. I love the fact that women, and even men, on the internet are allowed to express themselves freely, sensually, sexually, etc, without instant and immediate fear of repercussions. Imagine if some of that, just a little of that, were allowed to carry over into real life... Ah utopia, if I only knew where to find you.

From Wikepedia.org ouroboros article

Those seeking admittance must submit photos of at least three nude female family members at the door. Should family members refuse your request, any female acquaintance, co-worker, model, or prostitute may be accepted. All photographs will be subject to strict scrutiny. Tattoos, body jewelry, and visible labia must be attractive and tastefully presented. Self appointed inspectors will determine the acceptability of your submissions based on personal taste, bias, and whim. While we take every precaution to maintain a strict policy of inconsistency, submissions shall be judged via a long standing arbitrary process.

Firm pronouncements made by random trolls should be accepted as gospel unless vehemently flamed by a supermajority of members; otherwise, if you fail to meet the standards set by our officiating kook, please scurry along and find yourself a group that may find you less offensive to their inferior sensibilities. This group has been established for the pure enjoyment of those who fully subscribe to, and practice today's trending dogma. Should you be interested in learning more about our practices prior to participating in our lifestyle, you may be welcomed with open arms unless we determine that your very interest in our lifestyle identifies you as a person of questionable character.

Have you really made it this far?

It seems to me that the more outside "the norm" certain special interest groups are, the more they seem to be caught in a constant cycle of destroying themselves while attempting to build acceptance. I recently started following a naturist vegan group. I know, I know; crazy isn't it? I'm not interested in becoming a vegetarian or vegan, but I am interested in diversifying the healthy choices in my diet. Look, there's just so much chicken and salmon that a guy can eat. I ran across a vegan naturist social network and decided to join.

Since many of the members found the group by way of Flickr, you can imagine that it consists of an interesting mix of nudists, vegans, and "others". What I have noticed since I've been there, is that both schools of thought in the group include some of the mindsets mentioned in my opening rant. Clearly vegans have more than dietary concerns regarding their choice of nutrition, and some of the naturists range from the fringes of family nudism to the "You must be a pervert if you arrived without a picture of your wife" crowd. Either way, I could see how someone looking for information regarding either lifestyle could be made to feel unwelcome by that ever present vocal minority that claims far too many special interest groups.

Note: Since the purpose of this article wasn't to slam any specific group, lifestyle, or special interest group, I'd rather not link to the vegan naturist group at this time. My intention was to comment on a general problem facing many "fringe" subcultures.

Showing a little skin

To be clear, I'd post more photos if I had access to more content that I believed people wanted to see. The reality is that most people aren't arriving here looking for pictures of me. A few may, but most of you would prefer an attractive female to a middle aged man. Post photos of the wife you say? I see your point, but since she's notoriously camera shy, that's not an option. The point is... if there is a point to this nonsense... The point is that if you're going to post photos on a blog covering non-sexual nudity and sexuality, you're going to piss off at least 50% of your visitors 100% of the time. Aren't most readers on a mission? Let's say that you're cruising along looking for wholesome family nudism, and you encounter porn. Some of you may stick around, but most of you will just move on to the next site.  On the same token, if you're seeking porn, a bunch of naked old guys playing checkers isn't going to keep you coming back for more; unless you're into that sort of thing. At the end of the day, traffic at nothingtodread.com is, and always will be, driven away by the written word.

What is it about the first day of daylight savings time that always makes me feel like more than an hour was tacked on to my day? Thank god the day doesn't fall on a Monday... shish sheesh! Screw you autocorrect... I'll type shish sheesh if I want to! I don't care if you do think that it should be shish. Shish wouldn't make sense in this context, would it? Why am I arguing with autocorrect? Back to my point before my OS so rudely interrupted me... Ok, autocorrect, you are correct, interrupted does work better than what I initially typed... Where was I? Hell, I don't remember.

Today just felt long. It wasn't a bad day. It was actually a pleasant day. I had a long chat with a friend in Greece. As a matter of fact, I believe a personal record was broken today. She says she didn't do it, but I'm pretty sure that she flipped me off from someplace across the Atlantic. I've never been flipped off from that far away. Did I mention that it was a video chat? Well, it was a video chat, and I distinctly saw her social finger. I don't care if she does insist that it was her index finger. Why would anybody display her index finger in that manner? Nope, it was her social/middle finger. I'm sure of it... I've been flipped off by a lot of people, and I know a middle finger when I see one.

Latter today, I went on a rambling 20.54 mile ride around town. I didn't follow any particular route. I just enjoyed the warm weather. I know that the cold shouldn't make much of a difference once I get going, but I'm dreading the part of my "winter" rides that fall between the time I start and the time I get warmed up. Ok, I live in a place that doesn't technically get winter, but I still feel the cold. If I lived someplace with real winters, I'd could justify spending more money on staying warm, but it just doesn't get cold enough for that here. Do you see my quandary? I'll pretend that I saw you nod. Since we don't have a video feed going, I'll just be forced to rely on my imagination. You should see what you're doing.

She can't be a nudist because she doesn't use the same brand of sunblock as me...

Despite the fact that I haven't written anything about Nudism since this year's first quarter, that doesn't change the fact that I've tried to keep up with what's going on in the community. I read the blogs from time to time, agree with some, and shudder at others. I don't always agree with what's written, or even how some subjects are tied into nudism by the flimsiest of arguments, but those aren't my blogs, and nobody asked me for editorial input. Ok, I suppose I could comment from time to time, but you know what I mean. Anyway, despite the fact that I haven't been writing, I do kick the occasional topic around for internal discussion. By internal discussion, I mean that I argue with the voice inside. Don't worry... it's not one of those voices.

One recurring theme revolves around a potentially unpopular topic, the separation of nudism and sexuality. Say what? Ok, everybody agrees that nudism as described by "mainstream" nudists, including myself, is a non-sexual activity; however I'm referring to the thin line, not the typically well defined boundaries, between "mainstream" nudism and sexuality. Danger Will Robinson... I bet that I'm already pissing some of you off, and I haven't even gotten started. It's probably a good thing that nobody reads this blog anymore.

We've all heard it before:

That's not what nudism is all about...

All squares are rectangles, but not all rectangles are squares...

Wait, what...?

I've read and heard the argument that you can't be a real nudist if you're aroused by nude people or images. Apparently some people don't believe in turning off the turn on. I disagree. I may not always be turned on by nudity, but that doesn't mean that I'm never turned on by nudity. Isn't it more about context and presentation. I'm also aroused by clothed females under certain circumstances. What does that make me? What could be sexier than a long slit dress? A glimpse of leg making a brief appearance, then disapearing? The promise of things left unseen? I'm confused... where's the point of embarkation between flesh and fabric? Is it ok to be aroused by the textile but not the flesh? Is a striptease the equivalent of a woman reading a book poolside? My response varies between the two... what about yours? I've said it before, but isn't the determing factor whether or not you can imagine yourself getting laid?

One degree of separation... the idea came to me when I noticed that i could easily find a link to pornographic images from just about any active nudist profile on Flickr (Try it out for yourself... Just remember to turn safe search off in your preferences, or you won't find much). I was even surprised by how flirtatious and suggestive many of the non pornographic nudists were in the image descriptions, etc. We humans are sexual beings who want to be admired, desired, and yes, lusted after. Nudists are no different.

While I haven't encountered overt inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature in the nudist world, I have encountered suggestive queries, and I've overheard a thing or two that could lead one to believe that certain folks were enjoying each other's company. Combine that with what I've seen on the internet, and it's clear that the nudist and swinger world can and do frequently intersect. While not a practitioner of the latter, as the former, I've come to the conclusion that the primary characteristic defining a nudist is how one's environment affects his or her behavior. Otherwise, it would be childish and dishonest to claim that swingers and exhibitionists don't walk amongst us.

It's been a quiet year at nothingtodread.com. So quiet in fact, that I've frequently considered shutting the whole thing down in favor of a clean slate. What began as a fun little project... a place where I could explore, speak freely, and on a good day share some truth and information, gradually became a chore. I found myself worrying about who I might offend, what might be taken out of context, and what direction this blog should take. I found myself struggling to define something that I initially conceived as an amorphous playground.

Despite the fact that I frequently covered topics related to social nudism, I never described "Nothing to Dread" as a nudist blog. It was meant to be a place where I could freely write about nudism, sexuality, and general adult topics that caught my imagination. To some extent, my imagination was initially intended to be a driving force behind "Nothing to Dread". As the name of the site should imply, I meant to write without fear, or dread, of what people might think. However, I quickly discovered an eight hundred pound gorilla related to the nudist sensibility. Before long, I began to view every post not related to nudism with an eye towards "What will nudists think".

For a while there, I writing about nudism was fun. I engaged in several debates with my fellow bloggers, and I felt like I was truly contributing to the discussion in a positive way. There was a month or two there when I truly felt that the "nudist blogosphere" was a better place with me in it. The problem was that it didn't take long for me to feel as if all I was doing was picking fights, repeating myself, and above all, attempting to define the indefinable. At one point, I felt a complete disconnect... let's just say I was finished with nudism as a topic.

For a while, I experimented with a "members only" section of the blog. I saw that as a mechanism through which I could stray from nudist topics without muddying the waters. I wrote a little there, but some of the topics required audience participation to keep them going... My small group of "members" was less enthusiastic about their participation than I had hoped, so I let the project die. I think that "log-in required" section created some confusion amongst the occasional visitor to the blog. From time to time, I get requests for membership. I suppose some folks assume that something must be going on behind those closed doors. Nothing attracts folks like a locked door.

I'm not sure why I keep the site around, but it's still here, so I may as well post something from time to time. After all, why worry about what people will think about posts at a blog nobody reads anymore?

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I TELL YOU! I'm shocked to discover that right wing conservative Judeo-Christan Muslim fundamentalist small town Sunday school teachers might be offended by every word and image that I've ever written or posted on the Internet. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if they morally object to my very existence on this planet.

Yea, I'm mocking you. You know who you are.

I've done a lot of things earn a buck. I won't bore you with my full resume, but lately I've been reminded of the time I worked as a $5/hour shopping mall rent a cop. It was a simple job. Most of our day was spent baby sitting the mall rats and directing shoppers to their destinations. I did learn one thing wearing that tin star. Shopping malls are typically classified as Private Property that is open to public access. I could run anybody I chose off that property. People had a lot of trouble grasping that concept. You open up a place to public access, and they somehow get the silly idea that they have a right to be there.

Privileges vs. rights... I'm always amazed by how much trouble people have grasping these very simple concepts. You have a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You don't have a right to access private property even if all your friends are there. If you are a citizen and over 18, you may still enjoy a right to vote unless you have forfeited that right by way of felonious act. You may have a whole boatload of rights, but the last time I checked no place in the constitution of these United States, or any other nation that I can bring to mind, has anybody ever been guaranteed a right to free hosting.

My first blog was one of those political/current event type rant sheets where I just went off about anything that caught my attention. Other than my opinions, which many of my fellow bloggers disagreed with, the blog was safe for all ages. I was aware of blogger and other "free" hosting options, but instead I chose pay in the neighborhood of $100/year for hosting. Not a whole lot, but I don't use a lot of bandwidth, and the plan was actually overkill for my needs. I also chose a similar plan for nothingtodread.com Again, I probably could have opted for a free service, but instead I paid. Why? because I wanted the flexibility to what I pleased with my site. Granted, I also planned to do more than host a blog at the time, but I got lazy. The point is, I wasn't willing to place my self at the mercy of a third party. If my site went down, I wanted to have the right afforded to every paying customer to complain about the service.

People are complaining that Google is censoring nudist content by placing a warning page between their nudist Blogger sites and the world. Personally, I'm having more than a little trouble sympathizing. That "flag button" has been at the top of your blogs for years. Are you honestly that shocked that somebody pulled the trigger, or are you shocked by the fact that Google is out there covering their ass by tossing up a warning? We're in the mall with our genitalia hanging out for all the world to see, and Mrs. Uptightcitizensbrigade walks in on little Johnny jerking off to a nudist photo of the day. What the hell did we think was going to happen? Is there anything wrong with the content of the blogs in question? No! My site is ten times more objectionable than Diary of a Nudist. Does that mean that little Miss. Moral Majority isn't going to complain? NO!

Look, I'm an asshole. I make no apologies for that fact, but the way I see it the whining and the moaning about the appearance of the warning pages on Blogger sites is just another symptom of the crazy sense of entitlement that takes hold in any special interest group. We go from discussing simple non sexual nudity in a welcoming environment, and everything seems rational. We support public breastfeeding, fine. Somehow we eventually break from reality, and it all becomes all so very political. Suddenly we have a RIGHT to offend the public. We have a RIGHT to be nude in the town square. We have a RIGHT to FORCE our neighbors to confront our nude bodies and their irrational attachment to textile products. Gradually we begin to believe that we have a RIGHT to free and unconditional hosting, bandwidth, advertising, and the ability to promote our business without cost or interference. Then we're a little surprised when the public views us as crackpots.

Again, maybe I'm an asshole, but Google by way of Blogger is offering a service to the public, but it is still private property. About the closest thing you have to a right is the right to comply with their terms of service if you want to continue to take advantage of the privilege afforded to you by way of that service. Instead of crying about a business decision that they made in their interest, just say thanks for the free ride, and move on as some of you already plan to do. This isn't a vast conspiracy. It is just common sense.

I'm not going to make a lot of friends with this post. That's a shame, because I generally admire the bloggers who I believe will be the most offended by this post. The people who have been the most hurt by the placement of warning pages leading to their Blogger sites, also produce blogs that are far beyond the reach of what I do here. That said, I have been more than a little put off by the general "political" turn that nudist discussion has taken over the past several months. Maybe it's always been that way. I'm just more aware of it now. As far as the nudist content here at nothingtodread.com. I've been pretty much done with it for quite some time now. I'll continue to post the occasional trip report, but unless I'm writing about what I did sans clothing and where, I really don't see what more there is to say that hasn't already been said.

Check out Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. Yep, that's Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, and Felicia Day. I could make an attempt at explaining the whole thing, but you'll probably have more fun watching the video at the site. The first act went live today, and two more acts are on the way.

I'd love to go to one of those places, but my ass is scary...

Oh my god! You're a naked monster...

Those are just three examples of the comments made by people to whom I mentioned this weeks visit to The Terra Cotta Inn. While not all negative, all three were reminders of the prevailing perception about social nudism and why open dialog is needed to erase those misconceptions. Well, except for the part about being a naked monster. I am a bit of a beast.

I really needed this trip. We haven't been getting out much, and I was beginning to forget why I enjoy social nudism. It was great to see people of all ages, shapes, and sizes, relax and feel comfortable in their own skins despite the ravages of time and gravity. I was surrounded by smiling and happy people who were unconcerned about that unattainable image of perfection that drives men and women to a state of self-loathing and insecurity. Scary ass my hairy ass... All you have to do is it look at the brightly lit faces around the pool to know that those days of worry ended within hours of even the heaviest nudist's first visit to a nudist venue.

I've visited other "clothing optional" clubs and resorts, but The Terra Cotta Inn was the first place where I saw several people exercise the option. A couple of the ladies were merely topless while a third chose a two-piece bikini. My wife suspects that Bikini Girl just wanted tan lines. It doesn't matter. I like the fact that Terra Cotta Inn provides a safe atmosphere for women who may need a little more time to ease into a comfortable state of social nudity. I especially prefer it to the other extreme that results in trips to "nudist" facilities being planned around menstrual cycles, or the silliness of scarlet wristbands announcing Aunt Flow's arrival. I did think that the dude who showed up for breakfast in his boxer shorts was a bit questionable, but what the hell; to each his own.

Another first occurred this week at Terra Cotta Inn. Up until now, I've been reluctant to show my face here at nothingtodread.com. This week, I allowed myself to be photographed from my hair to my toenails with everything between the two fully exposed.

Believe it or not, I'm even impressed by Tom and Mary Clare's housekeeping staff. Housekeeping typically inhabits a plain of existence that while visible, is all but inaccessible to the guests. That's especially true when it comes to clothing optional and nudist facilities that I've visited in the past. You almost wonder if they actually see the naked folk lounging by the pool. That's not the case at Terra Cotta. I personally witnessed no less than three interactions between housekeepers and guests. In each instance, the housekeeper went out of her way to ensure that the guest was well taken care of.

While not billed as a B&B, Terra Cotta Inn serves a nice continental breakfast that includes fresh fruit, pastries, hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, etc. In addition to breakfast, afternoon snacks and wine are served. I personally watched Tom wade into the pool and refill a guest's glass. Ok, wading into a pool when it's 114 degrees outside isn't really a sacrifice, but it is in keeping with the finest traditions of service with a smile.

Terra Cotta Inn is a true clothing optional resort. The number of women exercising that option surprised me. More than I've ever seen in the past. I firmly believe that clothing optional rather than strict nudist is the best way to provide a safe and comfortable gateway to social nudism. Some women were simply topless, most were nude, and one woman lounged poolside in a bikini.

Guest demographics were about what one would expect. No children, couples only, and all ages. I don't believe that many, if any, of the other guests were younger than my tender age of 43. Many appeared older. All appeared to be having a wonderful time. By Thursday, several guests who appeared to be regulars started to arrive. The pool began to take on a lively atmosphere, and the laughter was rather contagious.

Overall, the wife and I have had a wonderful time. I would recommend Terra Cotta Inn to anybody (Veteran or newbie) seeking a clothing optional or nude vacation.

Before we I get started... Yes, I understand that swimmers are pretty much nothing but lean muscle. No, I don't think that fat is a required component of swimming. Now let me begin. Last night, I noticed that I was having a bit of trouble treading water in the pool. Swimming tasks other than treading water also required more effort than I've been accustomed to in the past. I couldn't figure it out. I suspected the three apple martinis I had with dinner in addition to the weight of that rack of ribs I ate, but it still didn't make sense.

The reason finally struck me this morning. I haven't been swimming since before I lost nearly 90 pounds of buoyant fat. I suppose it's time to learn how to swim without my no longer perpetually present biological flotation apparatus. Anyway, I think it's funny.

Good morning world!

I haven't been writing lately, but let's face it nobody wanted to read another "I lost x pounds while riding my bike y miles" post any more than I wanted to write another weight loss update. In case you're interested, I'm successfully maintaining my weight at 180 (+/- three or four) pounds. I'm averaging 160 miles a week on the bike, and my body fat is now somewhere around 16%.

Social nudism...

I have the ridiculous cycling related tan lines to prove that we haven't been getting out much lately. That's probably why I've had less and less to write about the subject for several months. Hopefully, that's all about to change. I'm going to start making a stronger effort to get away and enjoy this beautifully consistent Southern California weather that I've been allowing to go to waste. As a matter of fact, I've already taken the first step towards my nudist renaissance. I'm posting this article courtesy of the free WiFi connection at a popular clothing optional/nudist resort in beautiful Palm Springs, California.

I've loved Palm Springs since I was a teenager (Even before my first visit to a clothing optional B&B previously housed a few miles from where I'm writing this article). Palm Springs has a charm that can't be duplicated elsewhere. Never mind the summer heat. This is a city that I would happily visit any time of year. It is also the city that introduced me to social nudism. If I was offered "Palm Springs" during a word association test, I'd probably have to struggle with the simultaneous flash of nudity and movie stars in my brain. I suppose that I could respond with naked movie stars.

I have a bad habit of planning our getaways on very short notice. The whim strikes me... I call to check availability... Terra Cotta Inn turns out to be booked... We end up sleeping on a lumpy matress at a larger, and typically under booked, property down the street.

Wife: Did you call Tom's?
Me: Yup, no room at the Inn.

This time we got lucky. I called, spoke to Mary Clare, and booked a room. We haven't been here long enough to turn this into a review, we haven't even had the opportunity to meet the owners Tom and Mary Clare, but so far I like the place. I will say this - the bed in our room is wonderfully comfortable. We both slept like babies last night!