The world has changed over the past year and something tells me that it will never go back to the normal, whatever that might be, of the world before Covid19. When I leave my house to go to get a few groceries or a needed something or other from the lumberyard, I check to make sure I have a mask with me. At times, I find that I have walked a few blocks towards a destination, only to have to go back home and get a mask when I realise that there is no mask in my pocket. Strangely, it is as if without a mask when in contact with others, I am vulnerably naked.
Strangely, for many naturists, there are two sides of this question. The second side is “Am I missing out on something?” How do I mean that? Well, I can best explain by giving examples. When I drive from point A to point B, I see spots where I could be safely nude without drawing undue attention of others. As I pass that spot, I have this tiniest sense of loss at not experiencing that opportunity to be nude outdoors. It’s irrational as the journey is purposeful, and not a pilgrimage to another nude experience. Yet, there is always that “what if I stopped” thought that distracts me from the primary purpose of the drive.
A second example. I go to a neighbour’s home for a glass of wine and hors d’oeurvres. In all, perhaps there are four or five gathered. All of us have had at least one vaccination for Covid19, all of us are “senior” citizens, and all have seen me nude in my yard or house at some point or other. None have complained to me or made a fuss about seeing me nude.
Yet, the charade of me being anything but a nudist gets played out with me wondering, “what if I took off my clothes?” It’s that thought that infuriates me as the primary purpose is the social moment with others, none of whom are even slightly interested in nudity.
As I said above, the world has changed and it will not return to the way it used to be. Over the past year and a bit, more people have doffed their clothing to work in comfort from their homes, only putting on an item of clothing to cover their upper half when on a video conference. The assumption is that if your chest is bare, then all of you is bare.
Of course, there are “accidents” such as happened with a virtual sitting of government when person A didn’t realise that his camera was on as he returned from a run and stripped out to get ready for his participation in a virtual sitting of the House. With so many feeling liberated to be nude within the confines of their own homes, will there be that urge to expand opportunities to be nude? My best guess is, “yes!”
Will other people really care one way or the other if they see someone nude? Again, I think more people will just shrug their shoulders and perhaps give a grin while they go on with their own lives. Of course, there are others who will be offended. But then again, they will always be offended by anything that differs.
So, “what am I missing” can be answered with a thin ray of light that states, “maybe nothing.”