Social Naturism and Social Distancing

It’s warm, and the sunshine is abundant this morning, the first day of road blockades, curfews, and enforced social distancing. We aren’t confined to our casa though we have restricted access to essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and health centres.

We do still have access to the beach where we had coffee this morning while watching a pod of dolphins not too distant from the shore. Surfers were already in the water as soon it will be high tide, the perfect time to catch a hoped-for big wave. Joggers were taking advantage of the cooler morning air, and a few others were slowly wandering the beach at the edge of the fishing village. One wouldn’t even realise that there was a pandemic ravaging the world, if one saw only this scene – well, with the exception of drastically reduced numbers of people on the beach.

Less people on the beach means that I will be likely spending time at a favourite location for sunbathing and wading in the surf without fear that someone will see me and report me. An old, naked man out of view of the village, is not all that threatening at this point in time. Strangely, I miss the occasional passerby wandering past me. I know that I am seen, almost every time that I have risked sunbathing. Despite that, I am given my space without protest. Now, I know that physical distancing is becoming more of a factor. And, I am not alone in missing the contact with others. Back home, my naturist organisation has cancelled their monthly swim in the city. Other groups and locations are experiencing the same thing. Social naturism is taking a big hit from the Corona Virus pandemic.

So, is there anything we can do to add a “social” dimension with social distancing and social isolation now in place in much of the world? The simple answer is yes. Since we are in the age of social media, a face of computer-mediated communication [CMC], breaching the barrier of isolation is readily available to us. I cut my teeth with CMC in the 1990s, before the worldwide web launched. Taking part in various social experiments for education and mental-health purposes, taught me and others involved, that authentic communication was [and is] possible when that is the intent. Today, social media gives us so much more than was possible back in the day of limited email, server discussion lists.

We need to connect with each other via Twitter, MeWe, Blog sites, and other social media. Even Facebook is important because of Messenger connections. Though we are prevented from physically gathering together, we are not proscribed from being there virtually for each other. You will find me here and on Twitter. where the hashtags, #NormalisingNaturism and #NaturistCommunity are used along with #covid19 and #SocialDistancing. Join me in building a virtual naturist community. We are not really all alone through this pandemic, unless we choose to be alone.

Please add your Twitter ID and/or your blog site below in the comments so that we can find each other and build the online Naturist Community during this time of need.

This entry was posted in depth psychology, naturism. Bookmark the permalink.

5 Responses to Social Naturism and Social Distancing

  1. Robert Payne says:

    Well said.

  2. Nat Biss says:

    I’ve never considered myself a social naturist. Yes, when I meet other nudists on beaches or resorts I try to socialize and it’s nice to chat with them.
    But where I really feel at ease is on a lonely beach where I have enough space for myself. However, “lonely” doesn’t mean empty. When I’ve been alone on a beach I’ve come to feel strange. Somehow, seeing someone else in the distance is reassuring. You realise that you are not a weirdo, that there are more people looking for relax by the sea (and it isn’t relevant if they are nudists or no).
    I suppose that deep down we are all social beings and this season of isolation will end up affecting us. Thank goodness, as you say, now we have this window through the internet to keep in touch with other people.

  3. Pingback: Social Naturism and Social Distancing – Nudie News

Leave a Reply