Nudism versus naturism; they’re two very different things, although to the untrained eye, they’re both collections of naked people. My eBook, The Naked Truth, chronicled my summer as an employee of a nudist resort. My visit late last month to Bare Oaks Family Naturist Park was a different experience.
I met Stephane, who along with his wife Linda, has owned Bare Oaks for about a decade, after he read The Naked Truth and wanted to interview me for his podcast. He has hundreds of thousands of subscribers and that interview led to another life (and many sales!) for my eBook. Since then, we’ve exchanged emails, CJBK interviewed him for World Nude Gardening Day, and he and I have discussed a writing project he’d like to see come to fruition. Since I was going to be in Sharon for our family get-together, I decided to make the 7-minute drive to Bare Oaks so Stephane and I could meet in person and talk about possibly working together.
It’s not that he doesn’t have a sense of humour – he has a terrific one – but Stephane is deadly serious about his business. For example, I wasn’t allowed to be in the photo of this sign because it’s designed for nude guests to pose behind. And I wasn’t about to take off my clothes. I was literally the only clothed person on the entire fifty acres.
Many resorts of the past were clothing optional which led to a wishy-washy atmosphere. There’s no uncertainty at Bare Oaks: if you’re there, you’re naked, whether you’re on staff or on tour. Yes, even a guided tour requires you to doff your Dockers. Their allegiance to the lifestyle is admirable. You know what you’re getting into when you go there and watch their introduction video. It’s all about naturism as a lifestyle that includes care for the earth and respect for others. They have electric charging stations for cars, and strict rules about what you can and can’t do on the beautiful grounds. In my experience, rules command respect and respect is obviously as important among those who are nude as it is anywhere else.
Because I have no personal interest in adopting the lifestyle of naturism, Stephane and I sat under a tree, on a picnic table, and discussed working together. I was unable to locate the source of the bravado of the girl I was in my late teens, who moved kit-and-kaboodle up to the Four Seasons in Freelton to work for the summer. As people walked toward us and Stephane gave a friendly hello, I found myself examining the fine craftsmanship of the aging table-top or developing a sudden, deep interest in a tree leaf. I was very conscious that I was the odd one out. I even remarked to Stephane that although it was uncomfortable for me, it was appropriate. I was the outsider.
We’re going to try working together, long distance, on a writing project. He has the ideas, I have the fingers on the keyboard and we’ll see where it leads. I think my perspective as a non-naturist will help. And although I have a live-and-let-live attitude about the naturist way of life, I plan to stay here, on the outside, no matter how much I’m coaxed to dive in.
What a great project – and surely all of your experiences in Freelton have led you to this, here. It’s something about which most of us have at least a little curiosity (so many questions) and I can’t wait for you to ask and answer them! YAY!