Footnote!

Footnote Friday!

It’s the first Friday of the new nude year, 2024. Depending on perspective, it could possibly be the nude new year, 2024! There is always a second opinion as to what is acceptable and proper and what isn’t. That introduction brings us directly to the purpose of today’s post topic: “footnote!”

No, it most certainly isn’t a note written to ourselves on our feet!

A gentle yet not-too-subtle reminder that my traditional publication days here on ReNude Pride are Mondays and Fridays. Hence the footnote for today. It’s a Friday, the first one of 2024. Therefore, we can all remind ourselves that it is officially – at least – a footnote day!

While we are covering the subject of footnote, it is appropriate that we include the reality that this site advocates in favour of, encourages and endorses nakedness! We’re bare practitioners – same gender loving souls who practice body and clothes freedom whenever and wherever we are able. We are not obsessed with fashion although we are very fashionable when we’re wearing nothing but a smile!

Gio Dell: bare practitioner!

The overwhelming majority of us bare practitioners accept, respect and understand that there are varying levels of comfort with all of us and our nudity. Some of us may appear “bold and brave” without clothing and others among us may be very discreet and modest. There is no predetermined or set standard of acceptability of our being bare. What is good for one may not be for another.

As with any cultural or social group, individuals may and often do react differently, depending on the circumstances. All of us feel and respond in our own way in whatever situation we find ourselves. There is no magical formula that is applicable to us all!

Our reaction to our nakedness is no exception. Some of us appear unconcerned about appearing in front of others completely nude while there are others who are very discreet when naked among others. This is typical among all people, bare or textile. Some are confident, some are less confident and reticent. Human nature at our best!

Bare confidence!

The diversity of our reactions to our personal nakedness depends of factors that happened during our lives. Some of us were raised in families with no restrictions on nudity and no cause for discomfort or shame about sharing our clothes freedom with others, no matter of the clothing status of the others. Naked is “natural” therefore no reaction is needed nor obliged.

Some of us were brought up in families where naked was frowned upon and seen as indecent. Yet they developed no negative judgments or views on being bare either alone or in the company of others. This indifference towards clothes freedom was simply a natural reaction to what they consider a natural situation – no cause for discomfort!

The Shoneye Twins: proud (left) and modest (right)!

There are also those who grew up in households where bareness was acceptable and allowed/encouraged yet have no interest in being without clothing in any situation. Another example of the development of personality independent of any special interest. The human preference and spirit varies from individual to individual and isn’t entirely based on how one was raised.

One of the greatest misunderstandings is the generally accepted belief that bare practitioners have no sense of modesty. This is a concept that many assume is fact but is many times proven to be fallible. There are numerous incidents where the advocates for body and clothes freedom often are the ones who place restrictions on social settings where they are comfortable being nude. Again, this is based on individual preference and not determined by any obligation or rule about what is or is not allowed.

It is important that rather than judging a person on their comfort/discomfort with appearing bare among others – clothed or unclothed – we take into account their respective reasoning and allow them the freedom to practice their respective levels of acceptance and their individual comfort level of nakedness. All of us deserve the right to be exactly what and who we are!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, January 8, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “ReNude Pride: Seven!”

BBF’s!

Best Bare Friends!

January 3, 2009: a Saturday. Mr. Obama still retained the official designation of “president-elect” for about another two weeks. Jay (my soon-to-be BBF) and I arrived separately at the Naked Happy Hour (nude cocktails) event in downtown Washington, D.C. We stripped off all our clothes in the second floor men’s room with over 100 other guys. We proceeded downstairs (clothes free) to the bar area and that’s where we met. We’ve been BBFs (bare best friends) ever since then; exactly fifteen (15) years ago today!

This day was more than a full year before Aaron and I met one another. As a matter of fact, Jay was very encouraging to Aaron and myself and was the singular “honourary” best man for both Aaron and myself on August 15, 2015, the day that we got married. Fortunately, over the years, Aaron and Jay have also become BBfs together!

For the past four years, Jay’s bromantic partner is Raheem. Ever since we’ve met him, Raheem has been an integral component of our now BBF foursome. He fits as an appropriate “odd man” as he’s the only one of us who “wore” clothes until he met up with Jay! His unofficial designation (in jest) is as our “token textile convert!”

Despite our often laughing at Raheem’s “novelty” nudity status, we’ve welcomed him into our clothes free world. Amazing, he does have an enthusiasm for social nakedness and enjoys our outings among others as well as among ourselves. Jay often has a “new” Raheem tale of “naked energy” to share with us. It is rewarding to be with another who is enthralled with body and clothes freedom.

Over the 15 years of our “best bare friendship,” Jay and I have both considered not only the timing of our meeting one another but also the chronological implications. It was very early into a new calendar year, the actual third day of January, 2009. The day held promise and excitement. To start with, it was a very moderate day temperature-wise, I wore shorts and sandals to the planned “naked cocktail” event. An unusual occurrence for January of any year in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The unseasonably warm outdoor temperatures contributed to the exceptional crowd gathered for the bare “happy hour” gathering!

The crowd was one of the reasons that Jay and I met. I was looking over the attendance for a place to sit. Jay was seated at a “table-for-two” and had no one in the opposite chair. I approached him and…voila, we met! We shared the same table for a couple of hours, exchanging notes with one another and Jay practicing his American Sign Language (ASL). Before parting as the naked cocktails event ended and “textile cocktails” (clothed cocktails) began, we shared email addresses and agreed to keep in touch with one another.

We sent emails throughout the week following our meeting and were both very excited about Obama’s upcoming inauguration and the commencement of both change and hope for all of us living in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We discussed meeting for a lunch during one of the upcoming weekends but were unsure of the throngs of people anticipated before the swearing in of the new president. One of the suggested dates was to wait until after the president’s event and people returned home.

We didn’t have to delay our next encounter together. The following Saturday, nor January 10, 2009, we surprised one another (again) by eventually realizing that we were both shopping inside a bookstore in Arlington, Virginia. The confusion was based on the fact that neither one of us recognized the other because we were wearing clothes. We only knew one another through being naked – not under the disguise of garments!

Unfortunately, we didn’t recall one another until we were leaving the booksellers. It did provide us both with laughter as we realized this would probably be the contact incident that would permanently seal our friendship!

“Sorry! I didn’t recognize you wearing clothes!”

Naked friendships cause less confusion than one might think!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, January 5, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “Footnote!”

Bottoms-Up! December, 2023!

Summoning us all together!

Come one! Come all! We’re joining in together to close out 2023, and the month of December! Now, we join with Mr. Francois Sagat in baring our buttocks to bid “farewell” to the old and to “welcome” the new!

Francois Sagat: live and in reflection!

Nice bottoms-up! you have, brother Francois!

Thank you, 2023!

It was a fun year! The memories will be with us all for quite a while!

Bottoms-up! in triplicate!

Bare buttocks and the blue sea! A rewarding way to welcome 2024!

Bottom’s-up! development!

Our Equatorial bottom’s-up! features a pyramid of booties that rival the classic structures of the ancient Egyptians!

A Bottom’s-up! pillow for the weary!

The above Bottom’s-up! opportunity allows us to offer comfort for those who are fatigued or weary!

A temptation!

And to energize ourselves in order to share our bottoms-up! appreciation!

A 2024 welcome!

A well-earned greeting for 2024, the new year!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for tomorrow, Monday, January 1, 2024, and the proposed topic is: “2024!”

Boxing Day!

Boxed!

Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated the day after Christmas (unless it is a Sunday). It was originally a day to give gifts to the poor people or to service (domestic) staff. The observance began in Great Britain in the 1700s and today is honoured in the UK and especially nations within the Commonwealth. For many, it remains a time to remember all those considered the less fortunate.

A boxed gift for Boxing Day!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Sunday, December 31, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Bottoms-Up! December, 2023!”

First Day of Winter, 2023!

Winter!

Today is the first day of Winter, 2023! Sunglasses and sunscreen? Where is the sun?

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Tuesday, December 26, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Boxing Day!”

Season’s Greetings!

Happy holidays to everyone!

ReNude Pride appreciates you as a bare practitioner and your support for this, our site!

May your Winter Holidays be filled with both happiness and safety for you and all those that you love! Best wishes and naked hugs for each and every one of you!

Juggling for fun!

If at all possible, make an effort to share some of your holiday spirit with someone less fortunate!

Exercise for fitness!

Take care of yourself, emotionally, mentally and physically!

Bright lights for you!
A dancing elf to bring you joy!
A surprise usually always earns a smile!
The only way to travel!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The nest post entry here is planned for Thursday, December 21, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “First Day of Winter!”

Schedule!

Lecture Hall!

The university’s Autumn, 2023, semester has officially ended; all examinations have been conducted, results documented, reports submitted. My professional obligations are through for the remainder of this calendar year!

Celebrating!

“It is a very festive and social time of the year, even though the bleak winter season is here!”

Our dancing bare practitioner is already in the mood for the 2023 Winter Holiday season. He’s absolutely got the bounce, the look, the moves and the rhythm as he allows it to flow through his body while flaunting his nakedness!

His confidence and pride is vying for the first place spot as his spirit inspires us all! He even brought his back-up “dance” circle with him to liven our mood and to endorse his good cheer!

Back-up circle dancers!

Below is the ReNude Pride post entry schedule for the remainder of December, 2023:

Monday, December 18, 2023: Season’s Greetings!

Sunday, December 31, 2023: Bottom’s-Up! December, 2023!

Monday, January 1, 2024: 2024!

Dancing with his reflection!

Enjoy all of your Winter Holiday endeavours! Remember to return on Monday, December 18!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry is planned for Monday, December 18, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Season’s Greetings!”

Perspective!

With fellow blogger, Adimu!

Background:

The Pentagon City Fashion Centre is a popular shopping mall/tourist attraction in Arlington, Virginia, located near The Pentagon and just south of the Potomac River which separates the District of Columbia (Washington, D.C., from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is located very near the condominium where Aaron (my spouse) and I reside.

The incident described below happened almost a full year after I began publishing ReNude Pride back in 2017. We were both shopping in the mall during the winter holiday season. In reality, it was winter and we were both fully clothed in outerwear and our casual garments!

Aaron recalled this situation about a week ago and encouraged it as a “seasonal” topic to post here during this year’s holiday tradition!

I am using pictures of my fellow blogger, Adimu and myself to illustrate this posting as this was our very first time spent together when we took these images using a telephoto lens and adapter.

Adimu and Roger, riverside!

The truth is…

Early December, 2017 – it was a Saturday and Aaron (my h-u-s-b-a-n-d) – both legally and officially – and I exited the Metro Blue Line at the Pentagon City subway station. We entered the Pentagon City shopping mall for a particular item of clothing. What that was is as unimportant as the cost of a pair of sunglasses is to Rudolph (the red-nosed reindeer)!

Then, as now, we were both honest and open about our being bare practitioners (same gender loving naturists/nudists). We were probably publicly holding onto one another’s hands or walking arm-in-arm. President Obama had served his second term the previous January and his successor was now in office so we were most definitely in physical contact and completely clothed!

The winter holiday shopping frenzy was underway as we patiently progressed through the four shopping levels. We had all day and had ridden the subway; there was no need or reason to hurry. The only pressing item on our agenda for the day was to get home and return to our usual state of nakedness!

Somewhere along the way to wherever, Aaron stopped as he had been approached by another man – presumably alone. My spouse released my hand and immediately began using American Sign Language (ASL) as this man was addressing him orally. At the very least, I would be able to follow their conversation.

Adimu and I embrace!

From what we both recall from this encounter, the conversation began quite amicable, decent and friendly – initially. This man admitted to regularly reading ReNude Pride. He looked me “in the eye” as he complimented me on writing this blog and on our relationship (marriage). This wasn’t the first time someone had acknowledged our interracial gay status nor our being open concerning our preference for nakedness.

Suddenly, the conversation changed from pleasant to one of hostility. This man – name unknown – became increasingly emotional and he specifically accused us both as being insensitive to the fact that being gay was totally incompatible with being nudists!

Both Aaron and I remember his closing argument: “There is no way a gay man can be comfortable being naked among complete strangers!”

I was shocked and surprised! I couldn’t grasp his reasoning behind this exclamation! What triggered this exclamation? I was unable to even think of any response!

Fortunately, Aaron wasn’t in the same type of mental wasteland. He answered, calmly and simply: “Better to be naked with strangers than to be in costume among friends!”

He then grabbed my hand and led me away!

“A moment’s insight is sometimes worth a life’s experience.” ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes ~ American jurist

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is for Friday, December 15, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Schedule!”

Winter Holidays!

Holiday happiness!

The arguments and debates concerning the appropriate sensitivity and respect over the holiday and/or Holy Day…bah-humbug! On ReNude Pride, we try to be equal and fair to all, no matter the culture, faith, heritage, ethnicity, racial identity, sexual attraction and sexual orientation! We wish for everyone happiness for whatever the occasion!

Our header (beginning image) above does deliver a usually perceived “christmas-type” depiction but our listing below contains the reasoning factor. We intend to pay tribute to all here!

There are a limitless supply of beliefs, facts and reasons for all of our differing occasions to celebrate, commemorate and enjoy! Our intent is to attempt and strive to be as accepting, acknowledging and as all-inclusive as possible. We want everyone to feel comfortable, special and welcome here on ReNude Pride! Especially if you are both bare and same gender loving!

Celebrating all of us!

Please remember that no one is intentionally ignored or excluded from us here (unless too fully dressed)! Each and every one is encouraged to join in our adventures, escapades, education and fun. Good times and life are for us all to enjoy and experience.

Too many of our kind, of our nature have been forced to endure and to suffer during their lives. Many are even doing so still today. Now is the time for us all to cast aside all the oppression and repression!

In coming together we not only offer our collective compassion and support, we also share our suffering. This, in turn, empowers us all to commiserate as a community and to look and to move forward in strength and unity!

Togetherness!

All of us realize that our past is behind us. It is a lesson learned. Our present is part of what unites us and envelops us in love and respect. Our future is a journey, a path forward, a light that shines with all of our combined aspirations, our combined dreams and our combined hopes.

Working together, in patience, tolerance and understanding, our future becomes not only much brighter but also more alive and more promising! It is a step in the direction towards harmony, peace and tranquility not only for our community and our culture but also for our hearts, our minds and our spirits.

Our diversity makes us stronger!

This is why the celebrating of, the honouring of, the knowledge of, the memory of and the power of our communal and familial heritages is so important and necessary. Our history, whether personal, family, religious, communal or cultural is a vital part of each and every one of us! It is what makes us special and unique!

Sankofa proverb!

It is precisely the message of the Sankofa Proverb of the Adinkra peoples of West Africa. “If you forget it, you must go back and fetch it.” The truth shall be our guiding light!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Monday, December 11, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Identifications!”

Salutations South!

Sunny beach, Southern Hemisphere!

As we living in the Northern Hemisphere now face the approaching arrival of another Winter season, we look with envy at our fellow bare practitioners residing in the Southern Hemisphere! They are undergoing serious and well-earned preparations for welcoming another season of the sun-fun outdoors! We salute you all and wish the best for each and every one of you!

Skinny-dipping in the pool!

It makes no difference whether you enjoy the sandy and sunny beach with friends or a solo skinny-dip (naked swim) in your man-made pool – enjoy it while you are able! The summer – unfortunately – doesn’t last forever, unless you live directly on the Equator!

Racing into the ocean!

For everyone who lives near the beaches, whether oceanside or seaside, a daily session of skinny-dipping (swimming naked) is always a priority whenever the weather cooperates! The more the merrier!

Tagging his buddy’s buttocks!
Everyone is now water-logged!

A gentle reminder to all: take care of yourself and protect your health! Remember the sunscreen each and every time you go outside. Please click the link below for important information and cautions regarding sunscreen!

Cover Yourself!

Aquatic fun!

A re-read or a review of sunscreen facts this early in the season can guarantee a safe and successful body and clothes freedom experience! Have fun in nature, naturally!

Towering heights!

Sunscreen benefits everyone! The rays from the sun can damage our skin, no matter our race or ethnicity. I always carry extra sunscreen with me so that my absent-minded acquaintances can remain in good health, too!

Waving themselves to shore!

Another friendly advisory: do not go swimming alone. Accidents happen – that’s why there are professionals trained in aquatic safety! Ensure your protection and the safety of your acquaintances and friends!

Beached buttocks!

Naked hugs!

Roger Poladopoulos/ReNude Pride

Author’s Note: The next post entry here is planned for Friday, December 8, 2023, and the proposed topic is: “Winter Holidays!”