Seniors (Boomers) Keep Nudism Alive

[wolfie]

Hurray for us old hippies from the 60's the Woodstock generation is alive and well! I hope nobody posted this before. Cut & Pasted from the Senior Journal


Boomers, Senior Citizens Keep Nudism Alive

July 18, 2005 – So you thought nudism was for young people. Wrong. From a report on a recent gathering of the American Association for Nude Recreation, it appears that it is mostly baby boomers and senior citizens that are keeping nude recreation alive.
As 3,000 nudist gathered near Lehighton, Pennsylvania, for the meeting of the eastern region meeting of AANR, it became obvious the future of the movement has a problem. “Many who checked into Sunny Rest were well into their 50s and 60s, bringing to light a challenge facing the AANR: drawing younger people as members,” reported Matt Birkbeck in the Allentown Morning Call.
“More and more, when Carolyn Hawkins looks at fellow nudists at camps and gatherings across the country, she sees faces framed by graying hair,” reported Birkbeck.
"It's something we are really focusing on," Hawkins, spokeswoman for AANR, told Birkbeck "Many of us have been in this a long time, and you do see our members getting older."
For many, becoming a nudist takes personal strength and that comes only with age and maturity, Hawkins said.
"I didn't feel comfortable when I first tried it," said Pat Brown, 64, AANR's president, who became a nudist while in her 40s. "But soon after, being without clothes was not difficult. It gave me the freedom to accept the body that I lived in."
The AANR, which claims 50,000 members, has seen its ranks grow over the past decade, from 42,500 in 1992, and has boasted a 30 percent increase in the number of nudist clubs in the United States and Canada, to 260 from 170.
Aging baby boomers, having experienced the free-spirited decade of the '60s, seem to have gravitated toward nudist clubs, said Hawkins, noting that most AANR members are 50 or older.
Birkbeck reports that for the past year Steve Vickers, director of AANR's youth division, has been visiting college and university campuses recruiting new members.
"Their first reaction is disbelief," said Vickers, 24, who was raised in a nudist family in Florida. "They didn't know this was out there. Then curiosity piques, and they ask questions like, `Why would you do it?' I tell them it's peaceful, family-oriented, and you make a lot of friends."
Although they report no statistics about younger nudists, Birkbeck wrote that Vickers says his efforts are paying off.
The AANR claims to be “the largest, most long-established organization of its kind in North America.” With roots dating to 1931, their Website says, “We have grown from our humble beginnings to an organization representing nearly 50,000 members and their families throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and beyond.”
In announcing Nude Recreation Week, which started on July 4, the AANR news release said, “George Washington did it, so did Ben Franklin. Even John Quincy Adams conducted a press interview while doing it!”
Their mission, they say, is to “Promote, enhance, and protect in appropriate settings, nude recreation and nude living in the Americas.”
Members subscribe to the following principles:
“We recognize the essential wholesomeness of the human body and that life is enhanced by the naturalness of social nudity. From exercise to relaxation, physical health and mental well being are enriched through social nude recreation. We have the right to practice social nudity in appropriate settings, provided we do not infringe on the rights of others.”
The national headquarters is in Kissimmee, Florida.

[wolfie]

Hurray for us old hippies from the 60's the Woodstock generation is alive and well! I hope nobody posted this before. Cut & Pasted from the Senior Journal


Boomers, Senior Citizens Keep Nudism Alive

July 18, 2005 – So you thought nudism was for young people. Wrong. From a report on a recent gathering of the American Association for Nude Recreation, it appears that it is mostly baby boomers and senior citizens that are keeping nude recreation alive.
As 3,000 nudist gathered near Lehighton, Pennsylvania, for the meeting of the eastern region meeting of AANR, it became obvious the future of the movement has a problem. “Many who checked into Sunny Rest were well into their 50s and 60s, bringing to light a challenge facing the AANR: drawing younger people as members,” reported Matt Birkbeck in the Allentown Morning Call.
“More and more, when Carolyn Hawkins looks at fellow nudists at camps and gatherings across the country, she sees faces framed by graying hair,” reported Birkbeck.
"It's something we are really focusing on," Hawkins, spokeswoman for AANR, told Birkbeck "Many of us have been in this a long time, and you do see our members getting older."
For many, becoming a nudist takes personal strength and that comes only with age and maturity, Hawkins said.
"I didn't feel comfortable when I first tried it," said Pat Brown, 64, AANR's president, who became a nudist while in her 40s. "But soon after, being without clothes was not difficult. It gave me the freedom to accept the body that I lived in."
The AANR, which claims 50,000 members, has seen its ranks grow over the past decade, from 42,500 in 1992, and has boasted a 30 percent increase in the number of nudist clubs in the United States and Canada, to 260 from 170.
Aging baby boomers, having experienced the free-spirited decade of the '60s, seem to have gravitated toward nudist clubs, said Hawkins, noting that most AANR members are 50 or older.
Birkbeck reports that for the past year Steve Vickers, director of AANR's youth division, has been visiting college and university campuses recruiting new members.
"Their first reaction is disbelief," said Vickers, 24, who was raised in a nudist family in Florida. "They didn't know this was out there. Then curiosity piques, and they ask questions like, `Why would you do it?' I tell them it's peaceful, family-oriented, and you make a lot of friends."
Although they report no statistics about younger nudists, Birkbeck wrote that Vickers says his efforts are paying off.
The AANR claims to be “the largest, most long-established organization of its kind in North America.” With roots dating to 1931, their Website says, “We have grown from our humble beginnings to an organization representing nearly 50,000 members and their families throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and beyond.”
In announcing Nude Recreation Week, which started on July 4, the AANR news release said, “George Washington did it, so did Ben Franklin. Even John Quincy Adams conducted a press interview while doing it!”
Their mission, they say, is to “Promote, enhance, and protect in appropriate settings, nude recreation and nude living in the Americas.”
Members subscribe to the following principles:
“We recognize the essential wholesomeness of the human body and that life is enhanced by the naturalness of social nudity. From exercise to relaxation, physical health and mental well being are enriched through social nude recreation. We have the right to practice social nudity in appropriate settings, provided we do not infringe on the rights of others.”
The national headquarters is in Kissimmee, Florida.

[Sanslines]

A visit to any AANR club and you will see that the members are mostly seniors (couples). The senior couples are definitely AANR's bread and butter crowd. If it wasn't for the seniors, then the clubs would all have to close as there are definitely not enough young (who are mostly single) members around. Hum, I wonder why this is?

I have never thought that nudism was only for younger people since all I mostly see are middle aged (like me) and older. I see very few children, teens and young adults.

[nakednudists]

Ok. Every resort that I have been to cater to mostly middle-aged too older peoples. It seems that there is a lack of young naturists involved in all the activities. And I’m just not speaking about the really little ones, but high school and college-aged kids also. I feel this is due to prices at local resorts.
On a recent visit to Paradise Lakes in Florida, we payed a first time couple fee of $54. That is terrible. How do resorts and clubs, especially younger, to join when they can’t even afford it? I know that the nudist industry has jumped from $200 milion a year to $500 million a year, and the price for entry shows.
I think that if we want to get younger people involved, something needs to be done about prices.
The reason why you only see older people at these resorts is because they are well established financially and can afford it. Where as, the younger nudists is stuck at home.
There is a local club by us that we joined for very cheap, but my girlfriend feels uncomfortable due to the excessive male to female ratio in attendance. A lot of times, she is the only female.
As a result, we don’t go there much anymore and we try to make it to Tampa for nude rec as much as we can.
I wish there were other options for younger people and people who can not afford a $700 membership.
Does anyone feel the same way?

The Nakednudists


PARTY NAKED!

[WacoTX]

If you were on vacation you would pay $54 or more for a motel. I pay an average of $75 per night at Barbershop conventions and that is just for the motel or hotel room.

[Peter B]

It is the same situation in New Zealand. it is winter now and I go to a swim night in a warm pool. The great majority are over 40. There is a scattering of nude children, all before puberty and a few teenagers who get in the water"dressed"
In summer, on the beach, the same story, A few couples with children, then the great grey majority Some couples in their fourties, but without their offspring.
At the sunclub, naked teenagers can be seen in the pool, out of it they are dressed.
Nobody makes a fuss about it. Teenagers are very body conscious and apart from that, nudism is about choice, personal choice

[Sanslines]

Is the problem that the younger crowd just doesn't have the money or that they have other priorities and visiting a nudist club is way down on the list?

[Peter B]

Teenagers live and breathe by peer pressure and what is cool to them.
Nudism is and will always be a minority and as such well out of the interest level of teenagers

Everything teenagers say, do or don't do, eat, wear or don't wear, the music they listen to, the places they go to, is all dictated to them by their peers. If their peers don't think it's "cool", then they won't do it even if they want to do it.

Young adults just starting out in life, getting a job or career, marrying and starting a family, don't have the time or money for naturism.

By middle age we're slowing down and re-evaluating our lives and maybe changing some priorities. Some of us realize that we've wasted many years being ashamed of our bodies.

[Trailscout]

Where I go, they have teen-only dances and other activities just for them.

College students can get in for $10. Singles who are no longer in school, who belong to AANR get in for $25.60

Annual membership is cheaper per day than the daily fee and you can pay by the month if you can't afford to pay for the entire year.



Most of the teens are a little shy about nudity, but most of them will swim nude in our pool.

[OZJames]

NUDISM iS FREE

I enjoy nudism for FREE. We go (occasionally) to nudist beaches (in Australia and overseas) that are FREE, we occasionally go walking in the bush (forest/woods to non Aussies) for FREE, we walk around our house, garden and farm for FREE, we have nude friends visit sometimes for FREE, we swim nude in our pool for FREE.

Although I would like to, BUT because my wife is reluctant, we have never been to a "resort" or nude resturant, or nude swim night. If we did it would be instead of going to a textile B&B (resort) or a textile resturant so that would cost us anyway. We do not currently belong to any nudist associations (although we did belong to the NSW Free Beech Assn until it closed).

Nudism saves the cost of clothes and the time and cost of washing clothes (my wife rejoices the lack of dirty clothes on the summer weekends)

NUDISM iS FREE

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif <span class="ev_code_RED">JAMES</span> http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[usuallylurk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">As 3,000 nudist gathered near Lehighton, Pennsylvania, for the meeting of the eastern region meeting of AANR. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

3,000? THREE THOUSAND? I have a hard time believing that one.

[luvnaturism]

I don't buy the "young adults can't afford it" theme for a moment. Young adults collectively spend billions on discretionary items. That's not to say that there aren't specific individuals who can't come up with the price of admission, but in the group as a whole there are many who can.

Don't think so? Look at the expensive clothes, cell phones, cars, etc. that belong to young adults. Check around some very expensive night clubs that cater to young adults, etc., etc.

For that matter, sometimes we go to a very pricy resort in the Carribean. We're always astonished at how many twenty-somethings are there. It boggles the mind how much money some of these young adults have access to.

The most important reason we don't see many young adults at naturist places in the US is cultural. In our culture most people seem not to develop the self-confidence to try a nude vacation until later in life. That's at least partly because in the US naturism isn't generally a family experience.

A friend who has visited several European naturist resorts says that the noteable thing about them for a Yankee visitor is that they are essentially, fundamentally family places in a way that he has never seen in the US.

[OZJames]

Luvnaturism - quote
"The most important reason we don't see many young adults at naturist places in the US is cultural. In our culture most people seem not to develop the self-confidence to try a nude vacation until later in life."

Yes I agree but I do wonder about this so called lack of self confidence. Young people these days seem to overflow with self confidence - I wish i had had some of it when I was young.

ALSO it is very strange that young people these days are very quick to rip their clothes off and jump into bed with someone. It may be that naturism is not "cool" because their is no sex in it.

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif <span class="ev_code_RED">JAMES</span> http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[Trailscout]

James,

I have met young people who tried social nudity for the first time and they all spoke highly of it.

I had a roommate, who was not a regular nudist, but told me about how much he enjoyed the nude beach on Martha's Vineyard Island off the coast of Massachusets. I had a neighbor who went to a nudist park with her boyfriend and eagerly told all of us about it when she returned. I have met other young adults at the nudist park who were there for the first time and all said how glad that they made the decision to go.

Apparently a lot of people have believed the urban myth that nudist places are "weird". When they get there, most change their tune.

I also think that there is a big difference between being nude and alone with a lover and being nude in a public gathering of hundreds of people. This thought overwhelms a lot of people. But it is ironic that they are nearly nude at textile beaches. It is just a few millimeters of cloth that distinguishes the visitors to a nude beach from those at a modern textile beach.

[usuallylurk]

There is a big difference.

But the point is, a lot of people don't try stuff until later in life because of (presumed) peer pressure.

I would bet that a large proportion of posters here at http://www.clothes-free.com have never been in a social nudism situation themselves.

And how many postings do you see from people who would like to get together in New York, or Chicago, or Podunkville -- and you try to help them and tell them "there are several social groups and nudist parks in your area -- call (this group), (that group), (another group)" and they get agitated at the suggestion? I have seen that many times.

There is a board called meetup.org, where you can plan a naturist meetup. There are several dozen "groups" on there. However, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever had a MEETUP!

Every group on there needs someone to step forward and organize a get-together. How much effort does it take to say "let's meet up Saturday night at Bennigan's at 7 pm for a beer!"????

There was a thread about college students and nudism - my suggestion was sort of hand-waved off, if you're a college student, contact your local group. If you like it, bring your friends. "Nahhhh......it's all old people."

There is always an excuse ...

"Oweew. I can't do that."

"I betcha they don't let single guys in."
Hate to clue you in, but most clubs do admit singles these days. Call and ask.

"Well, I don't want to drive an hour to get to a gathering or club locale, I want it in my neighborhood." An actual paraphrased response from someone who wondered why there were no nudist parks or clubs within Boston city limits.

"If my parents find out, I'm dead meat."
This from a guy who was 34 years old and living with his parents. Similar responses have included "Mom will question it on the phone bill", "What do I tell my parents when I go off for the day",
"I can't join AANR or TNS, because if my parents find a nudie mag, they'll kill me", "go to the Eastern Gathering? When I leave the emergency phone number, Mom and Dad will find out where I am!!!"

These are not from kids - these are from MEN over the age of 18 - most of them over 25.

All you can do is give people information and a little encouragement and guidance. If people don't act on it, or throw excuses as their reasons for not going, what can you do?

[usuallylurk]

I might also add -

- AANR does NOT have 50,000 members. It did several years ago. Those numbers have declined. Note that they will say "grew from 42,000 to 50,000 in a decade." Ask for 2005 figures.

- the "260" clubs are not 260 resorts. If you started a provisional non-landed club, you are included in that number. Some of the "260" are just conduits offering AANR club membership, some are travel agencies authorized to sell memberships.

IMHO the reason you don't see a lot of younger people at nudist resorts is because of the crowd that AANR and the nudist resorts have targeted. Empty-nesters. Retirees, who may not have a considerable amount of money but do have discretion over where it's spent.

If you went to a nudist park 25 years ago, you would have seen a considerably larger proportion of young families with kids, and young couples. You won't see that today. AANR has focused their marketing on the Paradise Lakes - Desert Shadows Inn - Caliente crowd. The old style mom and pop campgrounds, which were the gateway into nudism for many of today's long-timers, still exist, and some still thrive. But you would never know it by talking to the AANR honchos.

Nude beach recreation? Well, there are token efforts there. But they are minor.

[Sanslines]

As costs continue to increase for the clubs, over time you will find fewer and fewer 'old style' campgrounds where the family goes, pitches a tent, then goes to the lake or pool for a swim. Most people also expect more today and dont want to 'rought it' anymore. As far as excuses are concerned, I have heard many of the same old excuses. For some, there could be a nude beach 10 feet away right outside of their door and they would still find an excuse not to go. As with anything in life, the initial interest has to be there.

[usuallylurk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sanslines:
As costs continue to increase for the clubs, over time you will find fewer and fewer 'old style' campgrounds where the family goes, pitches a tent, then goes to the lake or pool for a swim. Most people also expect more today and dont want to 'rought it' anymore. As far as excuses are concerned, I have heard many of the same old excuses. For some, there could be a nude beach 10 feet away right outside of their door and they would still find an excuse not to go. As with anything in life, the initial interest has to be there. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The problem is - the INTEREST **is** there. Anyone on this board is interested. They just don't take the next step. They will not pick up the phone and call a club near them.

[NakedGary]

usuallylurk,

originally posted by "usuallylurk"

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">There is a board called meetup.org, where you can plan a naturist meetup. There are several dozen "groups" on there. However, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever had a MEETUP! </div></BLOCKQUOTE>


Meetup for naturist or nudists interests failed in the Sacramento, CA area after a few months.

Two major Nudist resorts, + a couple of smaller ones, and 4-6 Non Landed clubs are in Northern California.

Meetup could not find an organizer to arrange meetings. The one or two arranged meetings only had 2-3 people attend, and meeting were always on a Saturday, when most nudist or naturists are out at a facility or club or in the wilderness doing their nude recreation or events or sporting. They ignored input as to why Saturday mid day was a poor time for indoor textile meetings at book stores or coffee shops.

The meetup concept is ok but not in areas which already have established groups and facilities such as Nude and Naturist facilities, and a large base of users. In small communities where there are no facilities, this concept might work as private nude hot tub, and swimming events at private homes could be arranged for small groups.

.

[Sanslines]

Then perhaps what we are talking about here is following up with some kind of 'action'. If I am interested in something, then I follow up with actually doing something. I have found many who claim 'interest' in nudism but will never follow up with any 'action'. I have come across many who say they are interested in nudism and then do nothing about it such as finding out what it is all about by comming to this forum. Not everyone will phone a club for they have followed up with their interest enough to know that the club is too far away, the club wont admit them, etc. I dont see the point of saying you are interested in anything if you dont follow up with any action. That kind of interest is more of a fantasy and who wants to sit around and fantasize about nudism.

[MJ_KC]

The problem is that society has changed, but the resorts are not changing. The percentage of non-married adults is a lot higher now than it was 20 years ago, but many resorts bar singles from entering. I would like to find a resort within 2 hours drive where I could could park my pop-up trailer and be nude the whole time. From what I have been able to find out so far, this isn't going to happen.

My only option to visit a full service resort would be to board my dog at a kennel and fly quite a distance to get to a resort that admits single males. This option isn't all that appealing to me because of the expense and the amount of time spent traveling, instead of actually being at my destination.

I just had a week off and I spent it camped at a non-nude location because of the local situation. Not my preference, but that is how it is.

I have been to a several of the major nude beaches around the country so being nude around large numbers of people is no problem at all. I would like to go to a local resort if they would just admit me without my having to jump through numerous hoops.

The resorts are targeting older married couples and this is reflected in the membership they have. It isn't that the Seniors are magically keeping nudism alive, resort policies are guaranteeing that they are the majority members.

[Trailscout]

I don't know of any resorts that require that you be married to the lady you bring. All singles have to do is bring a date. She doesn't have to be anyone special.

Some resorts allow a small number of unescorted men on any given day, a quota. For resorts like that, you can just call a few days ahead of your trip.

MJ, you are close the Ozark plateau and the Mark Twain National Forest. There's plenty of opportunity for nudity there.

I don't think AANR is going to be putting pressure on their member clubs to change policy anytime soon. Might as well give up on that idea.

[MJ_KC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Trailscout:
I don't know of any resorts that require that you be married to the lady you bring. All singles have to do is bring a date. She doesn't have to be anyone special.

Some resorts allow a small number of unescorted men on any given day, a quota. For resorts like that, you can just call a few days ahead of your trip.

MJ, you are close the Ozark plateau and the Mark Twain National Forest. There's plenty of opportunity for nudity there.

I don't think AANR is going to be putting pressure on their member clubs to change policy anytime soon. Might as well give up on that idea. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I have given up on the resorts. That is why I went camping at a state park instead of a nudist resort/campground.

Actually, I am about 4 to 5 hours from the Mark Twain Forest in southern Missouri. This is quite a distance to pull a trailer and I don't expect to find 30 amp electrical service in the middle of the forest, or easy access to water.

I wouldn't want to have to run off of a generator in the 100F temperatures we have been having the last several days. I don't intend to camp in the heat without my A/C unit being able to run on its maximum setting. I need to get another Honda generator to parallel with the one that I have and then I can run the A/C as needed.

[Trailscout]

I prefer somewhat cooler weather for tent camping. In very hot weather, a hammock is cooler for sleeping. I have seen hammocks for sale at the army surplus store for about $50.00

Most national forest campgrounds have water spigots at the tent sites. In this present heat wave, I would camp out by a spring or river and spend much of the day in the water.

Back to the topic, I would suggest finding a non-landed club or forming one.

[Sanslines]

TNS has been known to telephone clubs on behalf of their members to have them allowed into a club.

[usuallylurk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sanslines:
Then perhaps what we are talking about here is following up with some kind of 'action'. If I am interested in something, then I follow up with actually doing something. I have found many who claim 'interest' in nudism but will never follow up with any 'action'. I have come across many who say they are interested in nudism and then do nothing about it such as finding out what it is all about by comming to this forum. Not everyone will phone a club for they have followed up with their interest enough to know that the club is too far away, the club wont admit them, etc. I dont see the point of saying you are interested in anything if you dont follow up with any action. That kind of interest is more of a fantasy and who wants to sit around and fantasize about nudism. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

We call it social nudism for a reason - it's a social activity -- especially if you partake in it at a club or resort.

You can't be afraid to meet people, talk with people, or socialize with people if you go to a club. I guess if someone claims to be interested in nudism, but cannot find the gumption to pick up the phone and cordially make an inquiry of their local clubs, would they really have a place among us?

[usuallylurk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MJ_KC:
The problem is that society has changed, but the resorts are not changing. The percentage of non-married adults is a lot higher now than it was 20 years ago, but many resorts bar singles from entering. I would like to find a resort within 2 hours drive where I could could park my pop-up trailer and be nude the whole time. From what I have been able to find out so far, this isn't going to happen.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is beating a dead horse. But I'm going to do it anyway.

MJ, I really am sorry that the one resort that you want to get into will not admit single males.

But - I've been in organized nudism for over a quarter century. Here are my observations.

Around 25-30 years ago, almost every nudist resort was off-limits for single men and some even barred single women. Two groups dominated nudism back then. One was called the ASA and it still exists under the AANR name. In spite of its own marketing message, it's primarily a club organization. ASA's rival was another group - which hung on in one form or another, up until four years ago - the National Nudist Council. But it was a club-oriented organization and although it went down four years ago, it essentially lost its steam in the early 80s.

A group in Oshkosh, Wisconsin - the Naturist Society - sprang up. A stated objective was public lands and permitting nude recreation on them. An unstated objective was to bust down the doors for singles.

As a result - THE NUDIST WORLD HAS CHANGED FOR SINGLES AND FOR THE BETTER.

MOST parks now admit singles. MOST admit single males - some with no restrictions, others on a quota basis but to retain their TNS affiliation they have to even play the quota system honestly.

There is no shortage of facilities where you are -- it's just that ONE is closest to your home and it won't allow singles in.

As we told you before, and will tell you again, patronize one of the other clubs. If the dog is a problem, board him for the weekend.

If towing your tent camper is a problem, get a tent or rent a cabin or room on the grounds for a weekend.

And if the problem affects so many singles in your area, again - think about starting a non-landed club. If there are a large number of singles shut out of nudism, as you suggest, there should be a large enough crowd to form a pretty active non-landed group.

There are enough farms, ponds, people who own property with pools, etc. in western Missouri and eastern Kansas and if you have a core group, you'll find something or some place.

I do want to advise that forming a group won't bust down the door of the resort you want to join. If they won't admit a single male individual, they're not going to necessarily welcome a group of 20 of you.

But the club scene has changed considerably. Believe me - as half of a nudist couple for all that time, we've seen changes. And all I can say is, if one door is closed, go to one that's open.

[Sanslines]

Usuallylurk,

The truth is that Prairie Haven DOES admit single males. They do NOT have a total ban on single males. Their policy is restrictive and was elaborated upon by Walt in a previous post. Without repeating what he had stated, I have head the same facts from Prairie Haven. All it takes is a phone call or a trip to Prairie Haven to find out what their policies and procedures are. You then need to be upfront, polite, professional, and work WITH them to be able to eventually become a member there. There is a gender balance quota and hence a waiting list. A single male can become a member there but he has to be willing to work WITH the staff at Prairie Haven and do what they require to eventually become a member there. Making excuses and laziness will accomplish nothing.

[Buzzer]

http://clothesfreeforums.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_cool.gifThe younger generation learns some good things from us older folks!

[MJ_KC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Sanslines:
There is a gender balance quota and hence a waiting list. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I was told that they do not have a waiting list at all.

Here is the quote directly from Prairie Haven:
"I wish I could tell you that we have a waiting list but we don't."

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MJ_KC:

Here is the quote directly from Prairie Haven:
"I wish I could tell you that we have a waiting list but we don't." </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's a polite way of saying, "You're not welcome here because you're single, and single men can't be trusted."

[usuallylurk]

Whether they do have a wait list or don't have one, if they won't take your name and put it on a wait list - then I would

- get over it
- move on

Complaining to us here will do no good.

If a club DOES admit the occasional single, they may be unwilling to admit one who is constantly complaining about them in public forums.

I'm single and I live full-time in a nudist resort. There ARE nudist places that are accepting of single men. Out of the five I've been to, only one turned me away.

[MJ_KC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by usuallylurk:
Whether they do have a wait list or don't have one, if they won't take your name and put it on a wait list - then I would

- get over it
- move on

Complaining to us here will do no good.

If a club DOES admit the occasional single, they may be unwilling to admit one who is constantly complaining about them in public forums. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Are you now the topic police who gets to decide what is discussed?

The discrimination against single men is a well known fact. Although there are places (like Turtle Lake Resort) that are accepting of singles, we still feel like the old saying "Two's company and three's a crowd". Everything is aimed at couples and families and not at singles. We just don't fit in. When I try to talk with other men, I'm often shunned as though they think I'm trying to come on to them when all I want is someone to talk to besides myself. I often play pool alone because no one is interested. I shoot a few games and go back to my trailer and watch TV. I'd rather be alone in my trialer than alone in a crowd. I've heard that there are some resorts that have a "single's weekend", but I've never seen one anywhere I've been and certainly not here at TLR.

[usuallylurk]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by MJ_KC:

Are you now the topic police who gets to decide what is discussed? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I never told you to stop talking. I would never tell anyone to stop talking.

I suggested that if a club doesn't let you in, instead of moaning about it -- move on to some other place. Do something about the situation.

Perhaps you might want to do what Jon-Marc is doing - discuss discrimination, but Jon-Marc is ALSO doing something else - enjoying a nude lifestyle.