I grew up in a pretty conventional family. Sex was taboo, along with just about anything that could be considered sensual. So when I was first exposed to the environment of a nude beach, my reaction shocked me, as much as my surroundings.
I had been in basic training (boot camp) in the US Navy in San Diego, California. After eight weeks of being told where, when, and how to do everything, I was looking forward to just going for a long walk.
So the evening when we first had a free weekend, I left the base and just started walking. My intention was to walk to the ocean and then come back. Well I made it to Mission Beach, no it's not a nude beach. Mission Beach is on the ocean and I just walked on by admiring the girls, checking out the shops, and feeling the wind upon my face.
I kept walking for almost the entire weekend. The women on the beaches peaked my attention in their bikini's and flirtatious body language. Saturday evening I hole up in a bar and chat with a couple who offered me a drink. I was still in uniform because we weren't allowed to leave the base in civilian clothes. The conversation included what I had seen of San Diego while I was walking. They suggested that I take a day and spend it at Blacks Beach and that in addition to the beautiful sands and cliffs, it was a nude beach.
I'm sure I blushed. Just the thought of nude girls was an exciting turn of events. We chatted casually about all manner of topic and then I excused myself. Tired and hungry from my long day of walking. I grabbed something simple from a convenience store and headed back down to the beach.
I slept that Saturday night on a beach far North of San Diego, some 30 miles from the base. The next day I walked back, and many of my thoughts while walking kept coming back to Black's Beach.
The weekend spent, I went back on duty for two more weeks. By then, I had stopped at the commissary and picked up a map, and learned about the bus routes.
I left the base by 8 am and was on the road working my way to Black's Beach. By 9 UCSD laid out before me. I was told to take the bus to UCSD, then walk West to a glider port, then walk down the cliff paths to get down to Black's Beach. Just as they said, a half a mile later I was at the glider port.
This was the first time I had personally seen hang gliding. They would launch into the winds coming up the cliffs. I took my towel and drinks, working my way down the steep paths. I had been so focused on keeping my feet well placed that I didn't notice until I was at the bottom, that there were some 2,000 people, and almost all of them nude.
I'm sure I was more than noticeable, probably intrusive! Not meaning so, but I just couldn't absorb environment easily. I walked along uncomfortable that even though the girls were naked, I didn't have the same or heightened interest in watching them flirt. They weren't overtly flirting! I came to realize in just a few short minutes that they weren't trying to attract the attention of their male counterparts. They were enjoying being with the friends they were with.
I had no intention to get undressed when I arrived at Blacks Beach. I would be too embarrassed to take my clothes off in front of other people. Ten minutes into my nude beach experience, my clothes had to come off. I felt too out of place, as though I was violating some unwritten social law.
No one was watching me, not that I could tell. People watched other people coming and going about on the beach. But not like on Mission Beach where the boys and girls, men and women, would flaunt themselves to attract one another. No, on Blacks Beach people were watching each other like you do while traveling; wondering where they're from, what they do, admire their hair style, tan, watch their interactions like playing volleyball, ..... and body attributes. Tall, short, slim, thick, asian, european, black, hispanic, long hair, short, .... material descriptions of the human body one never even thinks of in a clothed environment.
Blacks Beach was not anything like I thought it would be. I was expecting meat market, and though there was a certain amount of admiration going on, there wasn't the strong sexual component that was dominant at Mission Beach.
This was a family environment, an environment that was difficult for me to relate to until I was emmersed within it. Once I was there, it was an easy transition. If you haven't been to a nude beach, don't be shy. There are people of every age and physical description. So you'll fit right in with everyone else. Just as with any other social gathering, people tend to stay within thier own family or friend groups. The exception is the volleyball games. Generally, just walk over and you likely will receive an invitation to join in.
Entire families spend the day at Blacks Beach. I've seen family groups with four generations enjoying the ocean, wind, Sun, and environment in-general. Single men or women lounging while reading a book. Kids running around, playing Frisbee, climbing around the rocks, making sand art, ....
I spent quite a bit of time being introspective about the whole experience. While also spending quite a few days at Blacks Beach. The most well known name for that beach now is Torrey Pines. I can't imagine a more wholesome experience. Imagine being able to accept your body form for how you are; not based upon what you see in the movies. Once you truely realize that you are no different than many other people, you don't feel so alone. You know there are lots of other people just like you. Social and introspective.
I hope everyone has a chance to learn that clothes are often a mask that is put on to deceive and influence others. While naturism (being nude with others) is a way of socializing without expectations.
My family is still far from being naturists. But I have learned to express myself more openly to them, and isolate myself less from them. They don't know it, but nude beaches have been a family experience for them, even though they haven't personally removed their masks.
I'm curious, how many of you have had similar experiences?
