Younger or Older which is best...

[8monkeys8]

So I was thinking how nice it is to see people younger than 18 on this forum who are healthfully finding their ground as a naturist. I was also thinking about how much easier it would have been if I had been getting naked with my family when I was younger. Now that I am 23 and only home on holidays it just seems really difficult to find a way into "revealing" what has become a natural behavior for me.

So, I wanted to ask about people young... (meaning still living at home kind of thing)
and old... (those of us at University or not living with mom and dad anymore)

DO you think its easier to "display" your natural self when you are younger, or what.... ?   ?    ?

What's your experience?   

[KingMidas]

I think it both has its advantages:

Younger because then you are more spontaneous, more advanterous, less ashamed and aware of the fact that you are really naked.
Older because then you can make your own decisions, you can plan your own time, you're not influenced by the opinion of your parents etc.

I'm glad that I found naturism when I was young though, I think that is the best - because then you have more time to enjoy it!

PS; nice picture!

[8monkeys8]

thanks... side note: when you write in another language on here does it just get translated somehow? that's interesting... sorry back to my topic...

[KingMidas]

Is it? I think not I write everything in English at least

Maar nu in het nederlands, let's see if that get's translated?

[Aaron Stern]

My experience is that my sister and I grew up in a nudie home, and I really can't imagine growing up any other way.  I never had any kind of
problems with it, ever, even though my mom and dad were always somewhat strict about it.  When my sister Sarah was about ten years old
and wanted to invite a couple of non-nudie-friends to our home, my mom told her that's fine as long as she (my mom) had talked to their parents
and consequently her (my sister's) friends would be naked at our home (their parents said no, as far as I remember).  The flip side was for my
sister and me (and Jennifer whom I first met when we were both three years old) that we always regarded non-nudies as "verklemmt" (Jiddish for
"uptight") who "haven't seen the light yet" (well, to be honest, that's my general view to this very day  ), and that we both, many times over
the years, threw tamper tantrums each and every time we had to wear stuff at the beach, for instance;  it was so against everything we believed
in, as dyed-in-the-wool nudies.  Now, as college students, Jennifer and I carry on, being naked at our dorm apartment and at home in Huntington
Beach;  so for us, personally, there's nothing that has changed, and hopefully our first baby that's due in June of 2009 will follow in our footsteps!
Aaron

[jeep]

Well i would say its easier both ways, Confused? I'll explain.
    If growing up naturist it would be easy due to the fact its probably your parents who have either promoted the lifestyle in the first place and introduced you to it so are obviously ak with it. However for the young teen person opting for clothes free on thier own volition it would be daunting considering telling the parents if you had not had any indicators previously that they are cool with nudity or are very religious or conservative.
    If taking on naturism later in life it can be hard to get people who have known you to be as they always have to accept you want to make what can be seen as a radical change to your lifestyle, however it can also be easier for YOU as the older yopu get the more confidence and "BALLS" you develop to assert your own personality and wishes in life, you are less likely to accept other peoples hangups or fears as a reason to limit your own freedom and enjoyment of life.
    Ever wonder why there is a majority of older people involved in the naturist lifestyle? The reason is that all these people have as they got older got the confidence in themselves and realised that they were prisoners to thier own and others hangups about things. They realised that nudity is not a sexual thing in itself as most young people think, they no longer gave a rats about what others thought of thier body shape, or about thier involvement in the lifestyle or what ever so just went for it and have a wonderfull lifestyle becouse of it.
    The ironic thing is so many of these older people who are naturists now cite that they couldnt have dreamed of going nude when young (Especially women) becouse at the time they could not bare to let others see thier body as they themselves were unhappy with it in some way. To a man (Or Woman) they all wish that they had taken naturism up when young and thier body was in its prime, and now that its well past its prime they realise that it just doesn't matter what thier body looks like, and no one realy cares.

[8monkeys8]

thanks for the posts guys I think this is really good stuff...

[Noodie]

To be honest, I think it becomes something of a non-issue for many people as they grow older. People tend not to look to their families for approval so much.

I started with naturism when I was 16. It's not something that I've ever felt compelled to share with my family and I still don't feel any need to tell them or try to involve them in it. I prefer to keep it as something that is practised around people who feel the same way as I do, as well as one or two open-minded friends.

I don't try to foist it on people and I can't think of many situations where I'd insist on wanting to be naked... I can't really sleep with clothes on, so I do have to tell people that I sleep naked if I share a room or anything. Most people are fine with that though - I think it's a pretty common thing these days. Besides, it's easy for them to leave the room until I'm in bed, if they might otherwise be offended. I'd also take my clothes off if we went to a beach where clothing was optional. Aside from that though, it's easier just to get dressed (if I wasn't already). I don't spend every waking moment nude (especially at this time of year!)

Oh, and on the side issue: Most Dutch people speak excellent English! Holland is a great place to go as an 'ignorant foreigner' who doesn't speak the language, precisely because of that (OK, you might have more problems out in the country - I've been in some little villages where no-one speaks anything but Dutch, even in the shops).

ik kan niet zo goed nederlands spreken  

[luck2002]

My experience is that my sister and I grew up in a nudie home, and I really can't imagine growing up any other way.  I never had any kind of
problems with it, ever, even though my mom and dad were always somewhat strict about it.  When my sister Sarah was about ten years old
and wanted to invite a couple of non-nudie-friends to our home, my mom told her that's fine as long as she (my mom) had talked to their parents
and consequently her (my sister's) friends would be naked at our home (their parents said no, as far as I remember).  The flip side was for my
sister and me (and Jennifer whom I first met when we were both three years old) that we always regarded non-nudies as "verklemmt" (Jiddish for
"uptight") who "haven't seen the light yet" (well, to be honest, that's my general view to this very day  ), and that we both, many times over
the years, threw tamper tantrums each and every time we had to wear stuff at the beach, for instance;  it was so against everything we believed
in, as died-in-the-wool nudies.  Now, as college students, Jennifer and I carry on, being naked at our dorm apartment and at home in Huntington
Beach;  so for us, personally, there's nothing that has changed, and hopefully our first baby that's due in June of 2009 will follow in our footsteps!
Aaron

Congrats on having your first baby!

[DragonSoldier07]

Yeah he surprised me on that one too, I've already given him my admonishment via PM 

-Felix

[Aaron Stern]

Yeah he surprised me on that one too, I've already given him my admonishment via PM 

-Felix

Well, don't be surprised no more  !  In fact, I had mentioned the good news on October 16 of this year,

... just the overall image is that I look like a kid, not a (somewhat) grown-up adult, who's going to be a dad in mid-2009

So there you have it, the thread is called, "Just curious ...";  but don't worry, nobody can read (and remember) all the posts here, that's
just the way it is.  Aaron

[rc]

Im not really sure which one is exaclty better but I think younger is better

[grahambell]

I agree too

[roversfan1]

Ive been a naturist since 14 and was nude around my mum from that age (parents arent naturists) but with my sister and brother I wasnt naked around them till I was much older...of the two I would say it was easier as I got older as my confidence regarding who I am as a person was alot stronger and I was more sure of myself. I had also had the experience of social nudity prior to being nude in front of siblings so I was less nervous with my own nudity and therefore their reaction.

Ben

[simonalexander2005]

I think when you're younger you can be naked around friends easily, beacause there's less worry about what you look like (and you can turn it into a game).
But when you're older, people respect your decisions more (although they can see it as a sexual thing when you're in your teens...)