The end of August is here upon us! The end of summer is rapidly approaching all of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere. This action marks the disappearance of our freedom to bare our buttocks and skinny-dip in our outdoor settings!
Pool exit!
So, until the season officially changes, it is to our advantage to bare ourselves and enjoy fine aquatic sunshine as much as possible!
A lazy sunny day in bed!
Sometimes, sleeping late offers a great opportunity for bottoms-up!
Buttocks after a dive!
Exiting the pool is a terrific time for observing the bottoms-up! routine!
Stripping to celebrate bottoms-up!
Join in and experience your bottoms-up! opportunity before the summer disappears away!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Friday, September 1, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bare in September!”
Charles Schultz’s canine character, Snoopy, thinks about his wardrobe for the next day! We need to remind him to take care and to stay bare!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Thursday, August 31, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! August, 2023”My return-to-work is scheduled for Monday, August 28, and I am taking a one-day break to prepare for the occasion.
There are many fellow bare practitioners (same gender loving naturists/nudists) who relish the summer months, especially the final full month of summertime: August. Back when the days of the season were free from school, it was the “last chance” for carefree antics and spontaneous play. The 31 days of August encouraged all of us to fill every moment with enough fun and good times to last until the next summer arrived, almost a full year away!
Within two decades, a majority of primary and secondary academic calendars have adopted a year-around approach to education and summers are no longer a universal break in the scholastic routine. The recent COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic contributed to this situation. The almost three complete months of summer holiday may now be a memory from the past, but the legends of the extended vacation from knowledge and responsibility will last for years yet to come.
This posting is intended to provide a recall moment in time for many of us to ponder the days of freedom, fun and August laughter. Good times are rarely forgotten!
August theme: Get naked!
One of the infamous advantages of the month of August in the Northern Hemisphere is the ability to strip off our clothes, no matter if we’re inside or outside! Clothes freedom often created an ideal environment for unlimited adventure and excitement! There is absolutely no need to “cover-up” all the fun!
Roger and Darren!
Darren and I have been friends for years. We’re both Deaf, gay and share a preference for being proponents of the bare practitioner lifestyle. When we initially met one another, we found ourselves severely limited in building acquaintanceship with others at a clothes-free riverside park in central Virginia – our mutual home state.
Kalvin, a new and friendly acquaintance!
Darren and I first met Kalvin when we arrived back at our usual hang-out along the riverside. It only took minutes for him to show us that he understood American Sign Language (ASL). Of course, friendship happened almost instantaneously! It was fortunate that the three of us were there simultaneously!
Kalvin and I: fun pose!
Kalvin had no problems relating to Darren and I and enjoyed a similar sense of humour. We all exchanged email addresses and numbers for texting. He also relieved Darren the burden of being the “odd man out” as Aaron (my current spouse) and I were seriously becoming a definite couple by the time we all met.
Kalvin and Darren!
That particular August, we gained a certain amount of infamy from other regulars at our SGL (same gender loving) area of the riverside beach. As the month progressed, other folks soon recognized “our space” and our style of communication (manual language) and respected the fact that our interaction depended on eye contact as opposed to strictly hearing.
Adimu and Roger!
Both Aaron and Kalvin heard conversations from our SGL river neighbours that let them know that our crowd involved persons who were either Deaf and/or hard-of-hearing. They also relayed that ASL was understood and used as our primary communication tool. Other SGL Deaf men soon happened upon us and joined in our fun!
Adimu and Roger: again!
The weeks of August passed and our somewhat limited bare practitioner Deaf gang grew as we met more people who welcomed not only our shared communication ability but also our inclusive nature. In relating to some of our newer acquaintances, not all of the riverside people were favourable to our presence but were grateful to have a resource to refer others.
Aaron, my spouse!
Through all this August Fun, Aaron had his own special type of fun behind his camera lens! I’ve frequently published here of his preference for being the photographer instead of posing for pictures. However, that didn’t ban others from grabbing the camera and capturing him unaware! Notation: This image was not my undertaking!
The bare truth!
Not only is socializing friendlier when clothes free, but socializing is much easier when nude!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 25, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Summer Chuckles!”
The fig-leaf is the legendary original covering (natural) used to conceal the genitalia when early humankind introduced the deceitful practices of modesty and shame. The idea of hiding a part of ourselves from others. Tradition holds that this natural element – the fig-leaf – was first employed by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. From the Garden of Eden to the serpent to the apple to exile. Thus began the practice of wearing clothes to cover-up our beauty: our nudity. All of the curse of biting into the forbidden apple. Humanity has suffered the consequences of this fateful action even to this day.
The fig is the edible fruit of the ficus carica, a small tree in the flowering plant family. It is native to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and also western and southern Asia. It is now grown throughout the world in a variety of climates.
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Fig-leaf community!
Wikipedia offers this justification for the use of the fig leaf. “The expression “fig leaf” is widely used figuratively to convey the covering up of an act or an object that is embarrassing or distasteful with something of innocuous appearance.” In other words, it is potentially offensive to some viewers so the intention is to reduce the level of discomfort felt by as many as possible. Hence the gentlemen in the above picture are posing in an image of self-censorship!
Their facial expressions let us all know that this posing was entirely in the spirit of fun and humour. They clearly understand that holding a fig-leaf over their penis in no way conceals the reality of their communal nudity. Plus, how likely is the fact that simply “holding” a fig-leaf in any way protects their genital privacy?
The “fig-leaf” has a pejorative metaphorical sense meaning a “flimsy or minimal cover for anything or behaviour that might be considered shameful, with the implication that the cover is only a token gesture and the truth is obvious to all who choose to see it.”
Fiddlefig leaf
The visual message from the above photograph is quite plain for us all to see. His body language shouts: Stop! The fiddle fig-leaf shows us that single leaf does not afford ample coverage as his pubic hair is visible, even with his left hand holding nature’s foliage! The question being asked here is: Why bother to continue the fantasy? If we all know the fig-leaf is a lame attempt of deception, why even try?
The questions are valid, at least in my humble opinion. The use of the fig-leaf as a posing tool is honest and sincere. Is it worth all the effort involved? It provides a theme or a focus for the image but in all honesty, it offers a message of confusion. If being textile (clothes wearing) is the choice, then a more convincing gesture or token is necessary. There are virtually no instances where a single leaf fails to obscure the fact of one’s being bare.
Fig-leaf reasoning!
Therefore, the best interpretation of the fig-leaf is to extol the act of nakedness or nudity as opposed to modesty. A reality that supports both body and clothes freedom and ridicules the religious and social “norms” or standards of compliance and decency. Actually, natural is a better concept to promote over deception!
The truth is that fig-leaf serves a dual purpose. It does represent an effort of compliance with social practices that encourage modesty. At the same time, it also idealizes the freedom and independence of an individual in exposing her/his body and in nudity. After all, natural is nature’s way of being ourselves – all the way!
We bare practitioners endorse being natural – all year long!
No fig-leaf required!
Freedom from the fig-leaf reaffirms our shared comfort, confidence, pleasure and satisfaction in being true to our collective preference in being proud as what and who we all are: bare practitioners!
Our mutual ideal!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 21, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “August Fun: A Photo Essay!”
Tomorrow, August 15, we celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary!
The year was 2015. Marriage equality had finally arrived in the USA one year earlier. Both of our sets of parents had been advocating and conniving for an official and legal marriage ever since the previous summer. Neither one of us could withstand the pressure any longer.
We became as one!
Strategic kiss!
And we still remain that way today!
Anniversary cake!
We’ve sent anniversary treat to each one of you! Enjoy!
Anniversary embrace!
We have reservations to enjoy our anniversary week at a lakeside clothing optional resort within our home Commonwealth of Virginia!
Naked hugs!
Aaron and Roger Peterson-Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 18, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Lose the Fig-Leaf!”
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had fond memories of not only the summer season of every year but especially of the month of August. The summers have appealed not only to me personally to me but also to my identical twin brother, Alex. As identical siblings, one reason for this pleasure from the season is the fact that we are both practicing and proponents of our nakedness and of the preference we both have with the camaraderie and fellowship among those who enjoy social nudity (body acceptance and clothes freedom in the company of others).
We’ve both engaged in being nude together and with others for as long as we can recall. According to our older siblings (all brothers), Alex and I have been this way our entire lives – even before we were aware that some judged nudity as “not nice!” One of the realities of our double (twin) special lifestyle is the fact that as our parents were trying to teach us how to put on our clothes, we were both busy and focused on how to remove them!
We both enjoyed being comfortable! Our particular comfort level was best determined by our freedom, our liberation, from the confines of clothing! This enabled the both of us to truly be ourselves and – at least, conceptually, in control of our independence from the restrictions of having to conceal – our bodies!
Literary twins!
Our nakedness was, primarily, respected within our family and household. At home, Alex and I, as the twins, shared a bedroom. When within our shared space, we were allowed to be completely bare. Our parents and our six brothers (no sisters) understood this and there was no condemnation or judgment when they entered our bedroom and found us nude. When at home and outside of our four walls, Alex and I knew the policy was that we had to wear clothes. A family compromise that granted all of us some minimal degree of content and happiness.
This situation at home was fine but for one aspect. The both of us were born Deaf. Once our education level reached beyond the primary grade levels, we attended residential schools offered for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing. This entailed us living on a campus setting without the privacy of a room where our nudity would be permitted. The privacy factor was not an issue for either one of us. The clothing issue was the problem. Another negative aspect was that our school was at least a three-hour commute from our family home. Not very conducive for frequent visitations!
Naked shame!
Neither Alex nor myself experienced any feelings of guilt or shame concerning our nakedness and our preference for nudity. We were comfortable being ourselves no matter if those around us were clothed or not. As our oldest brother had commented numerous times: we had no modesty anywhere around us! More than likely, this was due to the fact that in our household, Alex and I were the only bare practitioners among all the “textiles” (clothes enthusiasts)! Our immediate family had accepted our nudity without comment or judgment.
Our residential school environment changed our living situation. As August was now the final full month of our summer break from school, we began to experience “August anxiety.” The time just prior to the start of a new academic year meant that we would have to adjust to the very likely probability of new classmates within our dormitory existence.
New classmates is the equivalent of new persons who had to accept the reality of our naked preference. It opened the door to the possibility of judgment and rejection, not only from our peers but also from older students. As we were now in the later years of our primary-level education, any undue and unnecessary attention from others was not a welcome experience. Hence, the anxious or discomfort feeling concerning our return to the campus of our school for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing.
Thoughtful but anxious twins!
For Alex and I, this wasn’t a very carefree month. A life experience? Most definitely but not one of the most rewarding!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 14, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Aaron & Roger!”
During today’s frantic and hectic lifestyle, I’m sometimes asked how do we bare practitioners promote (spread the word about) ourselves? A valid question that does require some form of acknowledgment if not a complete answer. Most of our “promotion” comes by way of face-to-face communication between one who is already a bare practitioner and one who is curious to learn more about what it is to become one. The prerequisite here being the inquiry, how did the person inquiring even know about them?
Familiarity induces curiosity which often leads to questions. Some examples being: How does one become one? What is the difference between gay social nudityand bare practitioner? How much does it cost to become a bare practitioner? The list can and often does become endless.
To my knowledge, there is no book published that offers a step-by-step approach to becoming a bare practitioner. Anyone reading here has an understanding of the concept and those who personally are acquainted with my spouse, our family and friends and few others have some knowledge on the subject and then it all returns to the face-to-face communication stage.
Buttocks and penis!
Which leads to todays post entry here. The guy modelling here probably has no earthly idea of what or who a bare practitioner indeed is. Given the label on the bottom corner of the images that picture him, he’s employed either directly or indirectly for an adult studio that produces same gender loving pornography. Aside from that reality, we really don’t know that much about him.
The exception being the plainly obvious fact that he does seem very content on modelling (demonstrating or showing off) his physical attributes. He has no hesitation nor inhibition in featuring himself and, of course, his body. He’s very comfortable and relaxed in sharing his nakedness to others and allowing them to admire his anatomy. He’s also confident of their approval of himself.
Is he a stereotypical bare practitioner? Are we, as a community, overly-assured of ourselves as examples or models of the lifestyle of living with body acceptance and clothes freedom? Do we represent the naturist/nudist philosophy in such a provocative manner? Is this “what” we’re all about?
Inhibited?
In reality and truth, the best response to the questions offered above is “no!” There exists not a single answer to all of the proposed inquiries. Like every other community or group within our human species, there are some of us who are more bold and brave in our lives just as there are some who are more humble and shy. There are then the rest of us who are compliant with the idea or notion letting each of us determine our own level of comfort in being ourselves, no matter the categories or classifications we individually decide we fall or fit into. We are our “own” judge and jury.
According to our respective background, belief, role-model and upbringing, we are a collection of what we’ve experienced and been taught. Few, if any, of us are absolutely identical. Similar, perhaps but there is no predetermined standard that applies to all of us. There are as many varieties among us as there are number of us.
Boldness and modesty!
And this diversity is a benefit for us all! It is one of the major factors that makes our lives as varied and as different as possible. It keeps us curious and as interested in precisely what and who we all are. It gives us the value of being ourselves in a very chaotic and complex world! It affords us the chance to be unique in our own special way!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 11, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Anxious in August!”
August Play-Day is conveniently always clothes free! It is almost impossible to justify the wearing of a swim suit, let alone an athletic uniform during one of the warmest – if not the hottest – months of the year. Besides, it is a play-day – a day dedicated to fun for everyone – no clothes allowed!
A pool pose!
An aquatic decision!
August: time to skinny-dip!
August Play-Day: discard your clothing!
There is a reason that August Play-Day is celebrated. For one, it is about freedom. Freedom from having to suffer in the heat and humidity wearing clothing, one of the last things needed. The water, whether a pool or a natural body (lake, river, ocean) is very inviting and an overwhelming majority of us find it impossible to resist the joys and thrills of a skinny-dip (swimming naked) to alleviate the soaring temperatures and to relax around others doing likewise. Social nudity encourages communal skinny-dipping as many of us savor time together in a fun and healthy manner. A good time to be had by all!
Many race for the chance to skinny-dip!
There are numerous peoples who deny giving social nudity any thought throughout the year but with the arrival of summer, the month of August, the higher temperatures and any hinderance to abandoning clothing is suddenly itself abandoned. A carefree race through the surf along a beach assumes an entirely rewarding attraction as opposed to walking along, burdened by garments that only hinder whatever natural breeze is stirring! Inhibitions are cast away when the environment – both natural and social – encourage us to enjoy less stressful situations!
Good times for all!
Our nakedness encourages social interaction which also supports the concept of having “fun” together with others. The lack of any type of covering reinforces the ideal of living naturally – without the necessity of any garment or artificial item that transmits the hint of guilt or shame about our body. Too many of us are required to wear clothing for our professional lives. The practice of sharing our bareness with our acquaintances and friends affords a significant number of us to feel liberated from the restrictions imposed by a society that isn’t noted for endorsing individuality. The ability to be ourselves – totally natural – is one of the major attractions of social nudity.
Towel removal
Participating in nudity, alone or with others, isn’t limited to just outdoor situations. The changes in our weather that happen throughout the year force many of us to adapt ourselves to flexibility in our environment for different activities. Having to relocate our socially naked experiences provides us all with the skills needed to adjust to experiences beyond our control. It also affords us the opportunities to enjoy the various challenges interactive communal nudity offers!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, August 7, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bare Practitioner Model!”
August is the last full month of the summertime in the Northern Hemisphere. For the majority of us, it is the last chance for a completely natural (without clothing) stroll along our local beaches. For many, unless extended travel is planned, our surfside excursions are finished until the summer of 2024 (a cold winter away)!
Too much summer fun!
Of course, by the arrival of August, there are also many among us who have played very hard and strong this summer and are exhausted from all the effort. Instead of reminding them that they still have the entire month of August to enjoy, we allow them to take a break and then urge them to return to the game for the remainder of this month!
Gaming events!
Games during August seem to attract an intensity all their own. It must be the imminent arrival of the autumn season that spurs the rise of enthusiasm, energy and effort! August game-time often has a quality all it’s own!
Strip to skinny-dip!
Like many of the actions enjoyed during the month of August, indeed, throughout all of the summer months, is the refreshing pleasure derived from skinny-dipping (swimming naked). Taking off one’s clothes and enjoying the beach and the accompanying body of water serves to provide us all with a cool reminder of exactly what the season is all about: fun in the sun!
Skinny-dipping!
Naked hugs!
Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride
Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, August 4, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “August Play-Day!”
ReNude Pride: Guys Without Boxers! 