Young Nudists at Sunsport Gardens

gofree · 2013-04-28 16:28:00

The drive out to Sunsport Gardens, a family naturist resort near Wellington, was an exercise in endurance. Finally off the Turnpike, one thunderstorm later, and somewhere near the Everglades, I passed a sign for a gun show, drove by a Starbucks and Jamba Juice. You know, swamp necessities. Not long after what seemed to be the last Publix on the Earth, I made a right turn onto a well-kept dirt road that led to the place where naked people play.

Loxahatchee Groves is, surprisingly, quite lovely. Where you'd think trailer parks squatted on gnarled plots of land, there are mostly plant nurseries and ranch-style homes with groomed but voluptuous greenery. The area is also about a million miles away from wherever it is that you live. After what felt like three hours, but was realistically two miles, I reached their gate, monitored by surveillance cameras. Behind it, I was the weirdo in a bathing suit with hangups trying to score a conversation with younger nudists here for the annual Florida Young Naturists' Spring Bash.

The truth is, I'm not weird about nudity. I consider myself quite nude-friendly. A trip to Haulover Beach isn't going to phase me. But walking into a trailer, with a half-dressed receptionist -- who, by the way, was running a check to see if I'm a sex offender -- her boobs swinging carelessly, was a bit shocking. After she took my ID, I turned to meet my guide, principle Sunsport owner Morley Schloss, a thin 72-year old man with his tanned manhood right there, looking at me, or I at it. Just looking.

Morely, a former Rochester school teacher, first enjoyed a bare experience in the buff behind the stage at Woodstock, while bathing in a pond. In the present, the man with glittering blue eyes, combed white hair and beard, wearing only two beaded necklaces, made sure I knew that I could take photos and do interviews, but I could absolutely not take photos without him present. He's clearly the protector of these people, their undressed elder. When I first contacted him about the photo policy, the word was, we could shoot, but there was one rule: We couldn't pixelate or black out any parts. You know, like parts downstairs.

Morley Schloss and his wife Anne Fischer

For the past five years, three times annually, about 200 people, aged 18 to 30, strip down to take part in just about every outdoor activity you can think of -- volleyball, hooping, poi, swimming, yoga -- in the nude, thanks to the Florida Young Naturists. The organization was created by Vero Beach native Robbe White who I was immediately introduced to but was too busy to talk until later. Robbe's almost 30, and works as a produce manager at an organic market. At work he gets asked a lot, "Are you the nudist guy?"

"When I first came here, it was really rare to see young people here," he told us later. So he formed FYN to encourage young folks to get natural. After incorporating as a nonprofit in 2010 with the help of South Florida Free Beaches -- the org that runs Haulover Beach -- they've grown a healthy membership. Each person pays $15 per year for reduced or free entrance into three resorts in the state. The best part? To close out each of these weekend bashes, the group heads East to Lake Worth sushi place, Mara, for a time honored tradition: Naked Sushi.

Spring Bash 2012 (03:30)

But before I made my way to chatter with younger naturists, I was whisked off to meet Sandy, who's like second in charge and runs the resort's youth programs. When we got to her trailer, everyone was naked except for photographer Christian Lopez-Miro and his assistant. They were shooting an au naturel family portrait. Sandy and her husband, their youngest son, and her grandson, stood still, barely breathing, waiting for their cue to move again.

Her husband disappeared inside their trailer, and her son retreated to the computer, while Xavier, her angel-faced, tow-headed grandson continued to talk in a squeaky voice about how his name starts with an X. He played with two of their cats, Moose and Pokey, that walked lazily across the wooden porch. Sandy ended up being really awesome, so laid-back, and easy with a laugh. She introduced me to the term "textile world," which is where we all live, not them. A phrase I now want to find a way to slip into every conversation.

We talked about being protective of the young kids she brings to the nude beach, and whether she's more protective there than she would be on a beach with folks in bathing suits. She said she'd be extra watchful either way. She talked about how people just like to dress up sometimes. She, while totally naked, even had her nails painted purple. When I commented on them. She said, "I can't get rid of that!" Though some there judge her for this small vanity, others onsite indulge in plastic surgeries -- there's a range of styles. She's not into judging though, "Whatever you're happy with, that makes you happy, who cares. " Sandy's just one cool lady.

After an hour of talking on her porch, we took a short walk back to the main area with the pavilion and the Naturally Nude Cafe. Passing by the all-nude pool, it seemed there were more friendly men than any women, like a lot more. Sandy thinks it's because they don't have limitations on how many single men can be there, and gays are welcome. And many sunning poolside did seem, well, gay.

The under-thirties were covered in body paint, and four of them were playing naked Twister. At one point, someone's asshole faced the FYN photographer, who joked about "not taking that shot!" Twister, a game that's a little scandalous when one's clothed took on a new visual meaning when those entwined were naked. They didn't seem to notice their body parts, like you know, those parts, were touching other of those parts in the flesh. They were just playing the game. In the face of their child-like fun, suddenly, I was the pervert.

Someone was deflating the massive blowup waterside that entertained the group the night before. Friday was both the all ages day and the big bonfire party-time event. I couldn't make it up, but I heard that to the sounds of the Funky Nuggets and Free Like Me, young naturists were intoxicated and making orgy amour in their tents. But I can't say for sure, of course, because I wasn't there. But it seems like I missed out on some of the real fun. Even the Funky Nuggets performed naked, and the ladies in Free Like Me were topless, according to those who enjoyed their sets.

Past the volleyball courts, there was a tent city, complete with a stage. It all seemed sort of innocent in the daylight. A pariah, I was nervous to head over to the young naturists. I'm only 33, but I still felt like a lech. After watching a hoop class, I walked past Morley hitting a ball over a net (apparently volleyball huge amongst the nudists?), trying to find a first-timer to grill. But instead, I found a cluster of old clothing-less dogs who were happy to talk to me. One girl, Annette, thought I wrote for the "Nude Times." We plopped our, mostly naked, asses on a picnic bench and, well, let it all hang out.

A 29-year old ginger with a low ponytail, Chris, came in from Washington State, where he and his wife help organize Vita Nuda, another naturist organization. Annette, as it turns out, is a 21-year old student from Westin who grew up getting naked with the family. She was at this Spring Bash with her brother and twin sister, their seventh bash. "It's not a big deal in our family," she said matter-of-factly, "I'd say we're very liberal... I guess." And we all laughed.

Chris clarified that whole point in coming here isn't about getting undressed in front of people, but rather it allows you to do the things you can't do at home naked, "It's not so much about being in public, it's about being able to do other things." They can play volleyball (again...), swim, and watch a band. We then discussed the uselessness of bathing suits.

He refused to give in and admit that there are things that can be more awkward when you're naked. I mean, I can think of like a million things that could get weirder when not guarding your balls with fabric. Jumping rope? Riding bike? Standing in a packed room? "Being naked is a lifestyle, it's not for everybody," Annette said, "It gets you in touch with yourself."

Aaron, an insightful South Carolinian, joined our conversation. In his Southern drawl, he added that, honestly, some people don't like to do yoga naked. And you can imagine why. Aaron, who'd been a naturist for three years, says he got into it for, he guesses, "deeper reasons." Growing up with body issues, after losing a lot of weight, "my skin didn't shrink up tight," he explained. Aaron was always wearing a T-shirt to the beach, now he's just naked. "For me, now, I'd rather be nude than just topless, I can feel that belt going around me, and I'm just more self-conscious. That's maybe just me."

We got on the steamy topic of nudity and sex. Usually, if you're naked, you're getting down, taking a shower, or something. How does IT become a thing when, you're already naked? Aaron pointed out: "That's coming from the viewpoint that nudity is an intimate thing." See, getting to the heart of the matter, this guy! "This setting isn't necessarily intimate." Except for the hot tub, he had a really valid point.

"Genuine intimacy is an actual connection with another person, it's not nudity," Chris noted. "This is actually meeting the other individual. Having everybody naked, in my opinion, at least, you meet the other person faster, because there's less of a barrier. Well, clearly there's less of a barrier." We all laughed again. "There's a few layers less!" Annette joked.

Sandy and I had spoken on the topic earlier. Being naked isn't inherently sexual, like getting a bath at the hospital, for instance. But how do people deal with the tension of being naked and out and frolicking around with their peers? She said men will typically stay in the pool if they get excited, and the Sunsport staff will ask someone to cover up and exit the area if they're inappropriate. I commented on how embarrassing that must be! She laughed, "I know it sounds really weird! But it's necessary, we're a family resort. We understand that these are natural things that happen." But she admitted there's an elusiveness in matters of sexual intimacy. "I can see my husband naked now, and it does nothing for me, but in an hour, it could. But why? Who knows what that reason could be. Part of that is what's going on inside. Your emotion that you have toward it."

Mid-conversation, Morley showed up to add his two cents with Florida native, Sunny -- who in an email said she'd be the one out there with the green pubes -- her partner Tommy, and Robbe. Sunny's 10 month old (who she calls the "community baby") is still breastfeeding. She's topless.

Sunny, whose fun, brightly colored sunglasses hung from her many necklaces said on the topic of meeting people without clothes, "There's no way to judge them, because there's nothing to judge them on." I pointed out her glasses are a form of expression. I asked if there's some sort of nudist subculture fashion, to express themselves with ornaments. Sunny said no, but there are styles of sarongs, body paint, tattoos. Robbe suggested hairy armpits. Sunny lifted her arms, and we all giggled.

Chris defined wearing clothing as a "less passive expression. When you're here, I have to actually go talk to you to know who you are. It's not that there's no expression, but you have to actually do it." Sunny added, "You can't look at someone here and pick up on little hints and clues on the kind of person they are. You can try, and you will, but most of the time you'll be wrong."

I asked them if they end up comparing bodies. "To a certain extent. You can't get to the point of being vain about it," Aaron admitted. Chris claimed he doesn't do it more naked than clothed. "It's not like when you see someone naked, you don't notice what they look like," they still are attracted to people. Annette, the idealist. proclaimed, "You have to tell them apart somehow!" She thought, like they all do, that the absence of clothing makes you dig deeper into people's inner lives. This is a theme that reoccured in my conversations with the naturists. But I think it's a little baloney. I was perceiving their personality through piercings, glasses, tattoos, haircuts, what they held in their hands or didn't, all of those things, just as much as if I were looking at people who are clothed.

But there was something in what they were saying. When Sandy said, "It's really about what's on the inside," I agreed with her. It is harder to be superficial when your junk is all over the place. One ball on the bench, the other off or whatever. But what I thought was really strange was the focus on the idea that status was being stripped away with clothing. Maybe these people were just all broke bad dressers? Couldn't be that simple.

I asked them directly if they're better than other people. Sunny answered no, not better, but added, "I think it's a good idea to try to be nude around other people. It's actually quite a challenge to not have any clothes to express who you are." She said people hide behind their clothing. By that logic, it's almost like naked people have more personality? No, they claimed, you can be shy, or whatever. They think it makes you more outgoing and encourages conversation? Robbe brought up the body issue thing again, that it's therapeutic for them to be undressed.

Morley, who'd been standing there observing, finally jumped in. "It's just that people see when they're here, all different body types, all different ages. What they see as normal is a wide range that people fit in." Then he muses on the Barbie doll and airbrushed movie stars in magazines. He thinks women and teenagers, get more pressure to look a certain way. The message he hears is, "You're not OK the way you are. You've got to be more like this. You will not be popular, and you will not..." he jokingly yelled, "get a man!" He then hit us with the naturist mantra: "Body acceptance is the idea, nude recreation is the way." Morley thinks teenagers growing up at Sunsport are happy with themselves, a sentiment Sandy'd echoed having raised two women in the textile world, and two boys at the resort. "Therapists have prescribed going to nudist resort," he informed us. Sunny screamed out, "really?" As if this practice validates her lifestyle.

"You know about anorexia, and bulimia, people committing suicide, all because they don't feel good about themselves." Morley continued. And though I don't agree that the media is to blame for people hating themselves, I thought Chris explained it best. People get dressed in pushup bra, tailored suits, he said, and you might think that's what they actually look like, but, "there's a difference knowing that that person may not look exactly as they are presenting themselves. Or that person looks different than I do and are just being presented." Out there at Sunsport, "there's no lifting and tucking." It's all out there. No illusions.

Aaron felt like going out there is a reset button. For a while after he leaves a Bash, he sees people differently, he sees them in a "whole person way."

Sunny left to pump her boob, it started to leak.

Morley explained about his first time at Woodstock, "I came out, and all of a sudden, this freeing feeling of feeling the water, the air, the sun. I was sold in one minute." Went back to Rochester, looked up nudism in the library and starting visiting resorts that summer. "It's freedom. This is who I am, guys, I don't need to hide. this is me! That's quite an amazing thing to feel. And my whole body unified instead of there's this part, this part," he gestured to his top half, lower half, someone joked about another part, there was a giggle. "And then society starts talking about private parts, which is crazy." Then we joked about doing things in private with your public parts.

"For me it's kind of a spiritual thing. I feel at one with nature, and part of nature when there's nothing separating me from everything else around. For me that's a big thing. I don't know if anyone else brought that up." None of the FYN folks had up. "I never want to stop growing, ever," Morley said sincerely. "And that's what this is all about."

2013.04.23 Liz Tracy

gofree · 2013-04-28 23:26:36

Robbe White is a 27-year-old with a head of cherubic, golden curls. His girlfriend, 24-year-old Anna Phillips, is pretty and sun-kissed, with long, chestnut hair. Phillips is eight months pregnant, but otherwise, these two look like the stereotypical, All-American boy and girl next door. They spend most of their time naked.

White and Phillips both come from conservative Christian families. So these two might seem unlikely leaders of a nudist revival movement. But they run the Florida Young Naturists (FYN), a group of 18- to 30-year-olds who gather throughout the year to spend weekends au naturel, slipping down water slides, squatting in yoga poses, and beating drums around bonfires.

Founders of FYN (02:04)

It's hard to quantify exactly how many nudists there are in the United States today. The American Association for Nude Recreation (AANR), which was founded in 1931 and is now based in Kissimmee, currently has 48,000 dues-paying members. AANR focuses on advocacy and tourism, connecting naturists to nudist resorts, nude cruises, and places to spend their "nakations". The Naturist Society (TNS), the country's other main nudist organization, is based in Wisconsin and has 25,000 dues-paying households. Its focus is on promoting body acceptance through education and outreach.

Spokespersons for both organizations suggest that the cold, hard membership figures don't even come close to representing the massive numbers of people who like to frolic sans clothes. Carolyn Hawkins of the AANR says that several thousand people can be found on nude beaches any given weekend. Nicky Hoffman of TNS points to a 2006 Roper Poll (commissioned by TNS) that found that one in four Americans — roughly 70 million people — have skinny-dipped or sunbathed in the nude.

Nudism, or naturism (the latter term emphasizes the connection with nature), was practiced by ancient societies before Puritanism took over. Though guys like Ben Franklin and Henry David Thoreau reportedly liked to take walks naked ("air baths," they called them), nudism didn't really gain steam in the Western world until the advent of clothing-free spas in Germany in the 19th Century. In the U.S., nude recreation began to take hold publicly in the 1950s, but the first nudists in the U.S. feared discussing their habits for concern over being thought of as perverse and losing their jobs. The lifestyle would not grow to be accepted more widely until Woodstock, and it remained relatively strong into the 1980s. Today, however, says TNS' Nicky Hoffman, "the majority of our members are 45 and up." So the clothes-free lifestyle could be in danger of dying out - unless younger generations keep it alive.

2011.11.24 Victoria Bekiempis

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#1 2013-04-28 16:28:00

Young Nudists at Sunsport Gardens

#2 2013-04-28 23:26:36

Re: Young Nudists at Sunsport Gardens

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