The naked truth- warning: nudity beyond this point!

My writing, as Ozcloggie, (in RedBubble.com) on the topic of the quaint expression: *Nudist Camps*. (_Remember them?_) received 586 views. My other efforts (writing, journal, paintings, photos) at best get an average of, say, 18 views.

I've just read an article on the www by Nicole McClelland, on: AlterNet. Posted January 25, 2008, under the heading: _Nudism: A Healthier Lifestyle or a Bunch of Hype?_

Some quotes - Yes! Out of context! ) :

Once I decide that something is a good idea - going to Australia, baking a chocolate cake, trying nudism -I work blindly, diligently, toward setting it into motion.

( Please read the article here, yourself, if you too, have sometimes wondered whether naturism (nudism) is for you! )

Some more quotes, from the article:

The only thing that wasn't enjoyable was the constant, compulsory nudity. Despite all our efforts, we had sustained extensive insect bites and sunburns, and our butt cheeks were permanently dimpled and crinkly from sitting on our scratchy, textured personal towels during down time.

We had placed delicate body parts near open fires and stove ranges and ill-behaved pets, and coated them in sunscreen and bug spray.

Nudity had rendered nearly all our activities totally impractical, sometimes miserable, and occasionally unsettling.

_I suspected the real motivation for many nudists consisted of a combination of a desire to belong to something and exhibitionism, and nobody was owning up to the latter._

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I've never been to the 'naturist resort', where Nicole and _her intended_ found work, to hopefully experience nudism as _A Healthier Lifestyle_ and seemed to have come to the conclusion that it is, more likely _a Bunch of Hype_.

I look after the website of River Island Nature Retreat, west of Mittagong, here in New South Wales. I started visiting _River Island_, (clothes-optional) in about 1993 and, like Ms McClelland, once I commit myself to something (usually a _cause_) I live by that well-worn phrase: *Worth doing? Worth doing well.*

So, after joining the A.N.F., supporters club and then the Free Beach Association of NSW and getting well and truly involved with, particularly the latter, I got to know the owners of River Island reasonably well. They're simply very nice, open, friendly people, who do not make a fuss. Do not particularly enforce rules (Their resort is clothes-optional) but quietly manage the place so that everyone who visits and behaves as in any other accommodation enjoys the place, in what-ever way they want. (E.g., exploring the 500 acres, beside the Wollondilly River, or sitting by the pool, or in a spa, or reading a book, or sipping, a drink, etc., etc..

(I did not start this to advertise the resort. I know this one best.)

I *do* want to _let off steam_ about the way reports are written about naturists and naturist locations, almost always painting the author and their readers as people who know better and are more _pure_ and, yes, _normal_, while _those naturists_ do _funny things_ and don't have perfect bodies.

Naturism (i.e., doing things without your pants on) is not a _health cure_. Getting sunburnt all-over is not healthier than covering up.

In many of these articles there is often a reference to the _dangers_ of getting close to a barbecue, or deciding to use a wipper-snipper, in the buff. Removing clothes does not go with removing common sense.

The article that got me on this soap box, refers to an Australian naturist magazine, which was apparently being used, in a small way as a reference to what the author and her intended, expected from naturism.

There are currently two naturist magazines, in Australia that are widely distributed. The one referred to in this article puts more emphasis on body image. Is more likely, in my opinion, to feature attractive (younger) people. That's understandable. It sells magazines.

In waiting rooms, I often pick up magazines that show beautiful houses, with exquisite interiors and ocean views, but I know very well that I'll never live in one.

At the risk of putting the two topics together, it was seeing the topic: How you too can be Gay written about by Robert Knapman that made me put pen to paper (Well. You know what I mean!) here which made me think (As I wrote above) that How you too can be a naturist would not be a bad topic but I did not want to steal the idea (Well I have, really.) and wanting to make a similar observation. It is often said that most people would love to skinny-dip some time in their lives.

Do it!

After painting, beaches and books, photography is favourite.

Oh! and I do like going to River Island (west of Mittagong, NSW)

Maroubra Bay High School Reunion, 2009.

It will be 50 years since Maroubra Bay High School was opened(in March, 1959), in 2009 and that's a great reason to have another reunion. The idea has been floated. The committee which organised the 2003 reunion will, hopefully reconvene and plans made during this year, 2008.
Ex-students (Bra boys and girls) of MBHS, please keep in touch!!

jo at ozcloggie.com

Facebook link.

Background (link to the previous {2003} reunion pages)