new and shy and have some concerns

[Yankee]

im 20 years old and love being nude but i have yet to gather the confidence to do it out side my own home my concerns are im over weight (working on losing it) and have small penis and when i go in the water its gets even smaller. and i know that no one will even care because everyone who dose this accepts everyone for who they are and that's the hole point of being a part of this world, its just i just cant find the confidence and want some advice from people who have been in my situation.

my other concern is i have no friends that are in to being nude and would like to have a friend to experience it with strictly platonic, male, female, or couple, gay or straight i dont care i would just like to be introduced in to this new world with some one whos done it for some time or some one is new to it just like me because i feel like i would never gather the confidence to go by my self.

[unpocodecafe]

You didn't say where you are. If we knew what beach or club you were planning to visit, there'd likely be some on here who live near there and would be happy to offer encouragement. Nudists are friendly people and most will welcome the opportunity to help a newcomer to be comfortable and become a regular.

[Yankee]

sorry i live in new york 40 minuets north of the city

[usuallylurk]

Well, Yankee --

- It's not unusual to have some first-time jitters. This is a different environment. I was rather fortunate, I had my best friend (my wife) to take the plunge with me. The first time, we drove to the gate of a nudist park, and *I* chickened out!

- You can get advice here. And you will pick up a lot of valuable information here, too.

- I don't know if you've checked out the AANR and TNS websites, but you'll probably find places not too far from you. There's a place in Catskill, NY (Juniper Woods) and a couple of places in New Jersey (Sky Farm, Rock Lodge). And there's a fine bunch of people who I sometimes travel to hang out with called the Long Island Travasuns. Good folks.

BUT -- (now the "BUT")

YOU have to pick up the phone and call a place. And go through a phone screen. They will ask your name, where you're from, any past nudist experience, and do you hold a card with one of the "major" organizations (AANR or TNS, or if you're Canadian, FCN).

It's called SOCIAL nudism -- you have to have average social skills. If you cannot bring yourself around to call a nudist club and finding out what it's about, and having a brief chat on the phone with them, then you just might have a little trouble in our world.

Social interaction is not just present at a nudist facility or gathering or group -- it's EXPECTED. As unpocodecafe said, nudists are friendly, welcoming and will help a newcomer -- but YOU have to take the first step.

This is the last big weekend in the northeast for the summer of 2012. Make that call tomorrow or Thursday and get in the car and go this weekend.

[Navigator]

Going to a nude beach first might be an easy way to try out nudism Yankee, and you have one of the biggest near you. It's Gunnison Beach at Sandy Hook N.J. You can find directions on the internet and you won't have to interview with anyone, just go. As lurk says, this is the last big weekend of summer. Gunnison nude beach will be packed if the weather is decent and crowds provide a lot of anonymity.

[sunnysmile_fl]

Well Yankee, you've made the first step into social nudism by joining our forums and during your stay no doubt you will make some great new friends right here with us.

The main thing (and of course you may well be aware) is that these days, more than ever, it's really risky to be nude outdoors unless it is at a designated and established resort or c/o beach.

But what is your home area like? Do you have a yard that is big enough to fence in and mask off view from your neighbours with trees shrubs and other foliage so you could enjoy some nude time outdoors there?

[sunhippy]

Just a few random thoughts on the subject:

Check out the naturists groups that were already mentioned above as they have articles and links to first-time stories. Search here and read our first-time stories. There is a common denominator in them all, after the first 5 minutes skyclad becomes more natural feeling than anything else.

Have an iPod? Check out Naturist Living Show.

If you are afraid of crowds, visit the beach or resort during the week. Less people about may help boost confidence.

Try to get out somewhere this year before bloody winter returns. Instead of having angst over what could have been you will have pleasant memories of what was.

Check this forum often. We are here to help.

Remember the Nike ad - Just do it

[Naturist Mark]

Less people about may help boost confidence.

I've come around to thinking that it is best for beginners to go to a really busy beach or even better a resort. When you are only among a few you feel conspicuous, in a crowd you blend in.

Resorts are great because people are friendly and will welcome you and draw you into their groups, on beaches people are more likely to stick with those they came with, so if you came alone you are more likely to remain alone.

On some well established (and busy) beaches there are naturist 'ambassadors' and others who make a point to welcome and connect people - but at most clubs that is normal procedure.

I highly recommend going to a resort on a big event day when there is lots to do and lots of people around.

[78828892]

If you are overweight and have a small penis, according to you, then a nudist resort or beach is THE place to shed those concerns. We nudist come in any shapes, sizes, and state of fitness. You will notice that nobody really cares. The first few times, or hours, you will look (at penises and genitals) that´s unavoidable because you will be new. And it will be a good time to notice that your penis is average, (believe me, we nudist guys don´t have the porn-star penises) and if you are overweight, the only reason you should be concerned about it is health. You will feel better in a more fit state, but we nudist are also overweight, and we don´t care what others may think about it.

[Centauri4]

Yankee, It definitely takes time to over-come the "social conditioning" you have passively received over the past twenty years! Having grown up in a non-nudist environment myself, I was a little hesitant about the "idea" of social nudism when I first heard of it myself at about age seventeen. I saw pictures in a book wholesale catalog and thought, 'There is no way people are doing this in such an organized manner!', so in order to investigate it and see if what was advertised was true I ordered a couple of these books via post. Of course this was in the pre-Internet days when on computer Bulletin Boards where available, in the slow, slow "Dark Ages" of information technology.

After I received the books, one of which was "Fun in the Sun" and saw the family-oriented pictures with people of all ages, shapes and sizes doing practically everything without clothing, I became even more curious about this lifestyle. Everyone in the pictures was smiling, or beaming with happiness, and I had never seen such pictures as these in my experience. Sure, one person smiling or two friends smiling for the camera, but never an entire crowd of naked people all CLEARLY smiling, laughing and having great times together in the nude!

Please keep exploring the topic, continue trying simple nudity at home on your own, and try to expand your opinion of human kindness and sympathy by allowing for the possibility that people CAN BE or ARE accepting of people pf many shapes, sizes, disabilities and abilities, from many backgrounds and with all manner of personal opinions. We are just like the rest of society, a cross-section of the diversity that is human society, but we realize (or believe) clothing is NOT essential to human survival and development (in most cases). It is a different philosophy and it requires a person to become MORE knowledgeable than the "average Joe", not that I know Joe, have met Joe or could introduce you to "a" Joe with a limited and non-accepting attitude, but rumor has it "he" is out there in society.

Best wishes!, ~ Centauri4

~