Back Among the Nudists!

What's wrong with being naked? I wanna feel the breeze.

Unknown

                                                              

After my visit to The 1920’s Berlin Project in Second Life (SL) several weeks ago for their first nude function in the Bath House I read in their blog that this was now a regular event inworld on second Saturday of every month at noon SLT.  What can I say?  I decided to go back.

Now, many may ask why.  Or, jump to a very erroneous conclusion about my reasons for going. (Shame on you!)

I decided to return for this nude pool event for several reasons.  First, the 1920’s Berlin community is one of the best organized and tightest communities that I’ve met in SL since I’ve begun my travels inworld.  (Go ahead, read my other stories, I’ve seen many of them.)  Next, the environment is safe.  Residents are enjoying a pool party and just so happen to be nude.  Then, I’m with friends.  I’ve met many members of the community as I’ve traveled about.  They’ve helped me get around and write my stories.  We’ve had good times together.  (Well, at least I thought they were good.)  Finally, there’s the technical and artistic quality of the sims which have to be seen to be truly appreciated. 

My feelings about this are as before.  This is a group of residents, many of whom are friends with each other, coming together for a historical simulation of an event that occurred many times during the Weimar period in the last century. This is not a sexual event.  (I hope I’m not offending anyone with that last remark.)  As I remarked in my last blog, it’s a lot easier being around nude people in SL (especially for a man). 

So, with all these reasons behind me, I head off for my second nude function in SL. 

Of course, this could not take place without my having some misadventures along the way.  Like when I decide to arrive early to avoid experiencing the notorious lag in the sim.  I purchase a period swimsuit so I could change and wander around the premises which have been renovated since my last visit.  I go into a changing room, close the door, and now experience what is known in the early Twenty-first Century as a “wardrobe malfunction”.

I cannot figure out how to open the package and put on my swimsuit.  (I still can’t of anyone from the sim is hopefully reading this blog.)  Here’s my predicament.  Do I leave, try to fix the problem, and then try and return through all the lag, or, do I stay naked in the changing room until the hour for permissible nudity arrives.  The bruisers who are the lifeguards and who enforce the “no nudity except when permitted” policy help me to decide to wait inside my little cubicle until the clock strikes noon.  (Even in SL, I value discretion over valor.) This is one difference from last month’s function, two, uniformed life guards are on duty,   

Another big difference from last time is the changes to the Bath House.  The facility seems bigger and better laid out.  There are now private baths upstairs and a new sauna downstairs.  Changing rooms and showers are conveniently located outside the pool area. 

But, I digress.  Once the bademeister blows the all clear, I head over to the pool area.  I sit by the poolside and dangle my feet in the water and watch what happens.  (Yes, once again, my SL parallels my Real Life (RL), I’m not terribly athletically inclined.) 

Unlike last time when a crowd of people were waiting as the event started, many aren’t there this time.  In fact, I’m the first one in.  Over the course of the hour the crowd slowly builds to about a dozen besides the two guards.  Towards the end, one of the latter remarks that this is one of the largest crowds yet in the Bath House. 

Unfortunately, none of my close friends are in today’s swimmers.  Those who do come, swim, race, and catch up on the local gossip.  The banter is good natured and friendly.  I chat with a few people around me. 

The only down side to the day’s activities is the lag.  I crashed once and had to reenter. Several times, all motion froze.  And, for much of the time, some of the swimmers didn’t rez completely.  One woman’s head is above water but underneath, she is visible only from the waist down.  Others appear to be wearing white body stockings. (Or, maybe they’re just shy?)

But, this didn’t stop everyone from having a good time.  As the guards gave the warnings that the hour was ending, people were reluctantly leaving to go shower and dress.  I leave for home at this time.

Arriving home, I have time to think about my afternoon.  A quiet hour spent with a group of residents, chatting and playing around a pool.  Sounds terribly suburban doesn’t it?  Of course, no one had their clothes on.  But, then again maybe in some suburbs…

As an aside, when I’ve done recent Google searches for nudity in SL.  I don’t see much.  A few years ago there was a lot of activity and there’s SL wiki’s and forums, but, other than my recent blogs, not a lot.  I’m not sure why this is.  After my last blog, a resident commented that there are nude resorts in SL and recommended Wild Coast as being a proper nudist facility.  Who knows?  Maybe I’ll take my exploration of nudity in SL to some new locations. 

I’d like to thank the residents of 1920’s Berlin in SL for their continued hospitality and friendship as I wander about in their world.  I truly enjoy my time with them.  And as always, my hat is off to Frau Jo Yardley for the superhuman job she does in organizing and running this sim.    

As always, I’m grateful to all for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

     If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

Photo No. 1: Restored Bath House

Photo No. 2: Restored Bath House Interior

Photo No. 3: Restored Bath House Pool

Among the Nudists

     Nakedness reveals itself. Nudity is placed on display. The nude is condemned to never being naked. Nudity is a form of dress.

                                                               John Berger

Several days ago, I received an invitation from Frau Jo Yardley from The 1920’s Berlin Project in Second Life (SL).  Some may remember my last blog about the sim.  It is a very realistic simulation of Berlin during the Weimar Republic. 

The invitation was to a nudist event at the Bath House.  Nudity was required and not optional.  I thought about this for a bit.  Since being arriving in SL, I’ve avoided participating in the adult sim scene.  Not being judgmental.    It just isn’t my scene.  But, The 1920’s Berlin Project seemed a safe way to do something I wouldn’t normally do in Real Life (RL).  (Significant Other is still laughing at the suggestion of my doing something like that.)

The event was meant to recreate Berlin’s involvement with the Free Body Movement popular during the 1920’s.  (Caution, the link contains nudity.)  Like I said, it sounded safe.  I had precedent.  One of my favorite RL bloggers, Emily Yoffe, had gone to a nudist camp for a story in her Human Guinea Pig series to say she had done it.  This was legitimate journalism.  This was part of my exploring SL.  I decided to go and sent my acceptance back. 

Next, came, OK, now I’m committed what do I do?  I reached out to Frau Yardley to discuss the etiquette of an event like this and whether it was appropriate to show full frontal.  She quickly reassured me about the proper protocols and also informed me that genitalia were welcome as long as they were inactive.  (This is SL after all, nothing can be taken for granted.) 

I also learned from Frau Yardley that she wouldn’t be participating herself because she was too “old fashioned.”  (There will be an interview shortly with her that besides talking about the sim will ask how does she get all her friends to come together and undress without her.)  I was really feeling good about now.  (I’m known for my sarcasm.)

After that was settled. The next matter to be dealt with was my appearance.  How does one become naked in SL?  My first efforts kept leaving me in my underwear.  I had to learn how to put on a skin that would leave me in a total state of undress.  Next, I had to go about getting the equipment for full frontal.  My earliest followers may recall that when I first put together my appearance, I did it for nothing.  First, I’m cheap and, second, I’m the proverbial struggling writer.  No loose cash lying around for improvements. 

To make a long story short, I finally managed to put together a nude look for myself that wasn’t too embarrassing.  (And, it wasn’t just me, even Significant Other was impressed.)  Of course, I had to keep remembering to detach my full frontal equipment every time I put my clothes back on.  Oh, by the way, those who are expecting to see nude pictures of either myself or the other participants included in this blog, forget about it.  As my friend Glorf Bulmer likes to say, this isn’t that kind of blog. 

The event occurred in the Bath House in the sim.  Only adults could attend and all nudity had to stay within the confines of the building.  All participants had to be fully undressed.  A policeman would be outside to enforce the rules.  The only glitch for me upon arrival was lag and I got tossed out a couple of times (for technical reasons, not unruly behavior) before I finally got rezzed in.  At one point, I thought I’d be arrested for public indecency because I was naked when I almost got tossed out.  See what I go through to bring these stories back? 

I was among the first arrivals.  There was a mixed crowd of men and women with the latter in the majority.  Some of the women were nervous and giggling.  A few people started with swim suits but these quickly came off.  I met two old friends, Rosemary Thyme Chesnokova and Wulfi Blitzen.  Rosemary had guided me during my first visit to 1920’s Berlin and had also accompanied me for part of my twenty-four hours in SL last year.  Wulfi had recommended the SL Manchu Picchu ruins that I blogged about. 

The nudists’ event was strictly a swimming event, not an “adult” event as SL sometimes implies.  Think of it as a pool party in Berlin where everyone was naked.  Everyone was swimming, diving, or just hanging out and talking.  Once again, I had the sense of community that I always find on occasions like this in SL. 

This was the first time in either SL or RL that I was naked with a mixed sex group and I didn’t feel uncomfortable.  Of course, one of the advantages of group nudity in SL is that one doesn’t have to worry where one’s eyes wander to and men don’t have to worry about any natural reactions.  (Remember all the genitalia were inactive.)    

This was the first authorized nude event in 1920’s Berlin.  Some attendees had been to other inworld nude events.  When I asked why they had come.  I received several answers.  The most common was this was part of the historical reenactment and they wanted to participate.  Next, some wanted to be with their friends.  And, finally, others just wanted to do it. 

In addition to the pool, there were showers and a steam room.  (I’d encourage visitors to drop even if it does mean going clothed.  Check the sim’s dress rules before visiting though.)  The event lasted an hour before the policeman told everyone to dress up or be locked up. 

I had an enjoyable time and was disappointed that the time went by so quickly.  The event was natural and non-threatening.  I would do it again and would encourage other residents to do so if invited.  Once again, I found a group of SL residents who enjoyed each other’s company and made a stranger feel welcome. 

I would like to thank Frau Jo Yardley for inviting me and all the attendees who made me feel welcome. I’m also grateful to Wulfi Blitzen for giving me a tour of the neighborhood and later inviting me to the El Dorado club to mingle with the regulars. 

As always, I’m grateful to all for their kindness and time in stopping to talk with a stranger who was passing through their lives. 

I welcome feedback from readers, please either comment on my blog or e-mail me at webspelunker@gmail.com . 

     If you would like to read about my other adventures in Second Life please click here.

Photo No. 1: Bath Hour Poster

Photo No. 2: Bath House

Photo No. 3: The Pool

Photo No. 4: Bath House Neighborhood