Many of my blogs may have been perceived as a tad critical of landed clubs and their relevance in modern times. I have challenged the way some are run, their attitudes to single males, their failure to cater to younger naturists and their reluctance to embrace or even accommodate digital technology.
One problem with clubs is that in most areas there is not enough nudist density to support them. Consequently, even in the LA metro area of 8 million people, we have one landed club. I have to drive 50 miles to get to it because real estate is too expensive to have it anywhere near the city.
Another is the that some clubs don't want to grow or change or market themselves to young people. That is a sure formula for gradual extinction. OTOH, many do want to grow but don't understand marketing very well. We fight over a slice of the existing nudist community but the community doesn't get expanded.
Clubs are too much akin to ghettos or reservations for my taste. Keep to ourselves, keep our heads down, don't make waves, keep the closet door mostly closed. That isn't a problem with the clubs so much as a problem with nudists in general. Life is too easy in the camp. They don't feel the fire other small minorities feel to fight for their share of the public table.
If there is a future for nudism in most parts of the country, it is in nonlanded clubs, individuals who recreate in the nude on their own, and special events like the WNBR.
Clubs undoubtedly have their place, and of course the quality will vary with the operators and membership. But I think the wide disparity evidenced by the UK figure, between naturists and club members, is more reflective of the non-membership of anything, not just naturists. Once upon a time club membership was a social thing, whether the general social club or specific interest group, but over the past 50 years we’ve witnessed a trend away from this, I think in large part because people don’t want to commit to an organisation when life today is so much more varied than way back when.
Some activities, of course, require organisation and club membership - sports spring to mind as to play the game requires team mates and facilities. But naturism in particular needs no special facilities, we just take our clothes off!
Peter, I think you are right in that naturism needs no special facilities to be practised on a personal level. Perhaps we are too focused on our own personal needs rather than the naturist community as a whole. Strength in numbers might actually have some positive consequences. It is hard to change society's ideas and misconceptions about naturism if we only sit naked in our homes with the curtains closed.
"It is hard to change society's ideas and misconceptions about naturism if we only sit naked in our homes with the curtains closed." Yes true, Steve. But by the same token it is hard to change society's ideas and misconceptions about naturism if we only sit naked behind the tall hedges and locked gates of the naturist club!
I too have been accused of being anti-clubs, which is also not true. And I suspect my criticism of them has been largely responsible for that perception among some (not all) club folks. So, for the record once again, I am not anti-clubs. But I AM anti-stagnation and have little patience with anyone unwilling to adapt with the times.
As you say, the clubs offer amazing facilities and camaraderie and I've almost always enjoyed my times spent visiting them (on a couple of occasions I found one club in particular a bit cliquey). And they do offer, as you say, a space which some feel safer in. And for those reasons the clubs do still have a role to play.
I think that what the clubs fail to realise is that the main reasons they were formed in the first place are becoming less of an issue today. At one stage, even as recent as 10 to 15 years ago, being naked in public spaces carried a very real risk of arrest and legal consequences, even without any obscenity being committed. And society in general largely regarded folks running around naked with each other to be somewhat perverted, or at least weird. So clubs were pretty much essential to get around these attitudes - especially in urban and suburban areas.
But, today, attitudes are changing and those reasons for existing are slowly fading. The Justice Dept and Police are now realising that, in many appropriate locations and without any lewd behaviour, simple nudity is harmless and certainly not a crime. With very few exceptions, people can enjoy their pursuit of naturism / nudism/ clothes-free / (call it what you may) in places local to them, without the fees and obligations of club membership.
I believe that, for clubs to survive into the future, they need to have a hard think about their current relevance and be prepared to adapt and change.
Great valid points about the operation of these landed clubs. They are a business, not just someone's hobby. Our club, OakLake Trails has grown substantially in the last 4 years because of all the things mentioned and offers a secure place for family nudity as well as acceptance for all.
Thanks for sharing this. You make some valid point about landed clubs resorts what ever are are calling this em these days they have an important role to play in the continuation of naturism. Sometimes disagreement on something’s gets perceived as disagreement on everything
Thanks. I like to hear different perspectives and learn. I enjoy my landed club and am grateful for it.
you have done a nice balance by giving accolades to the clubs & it's efforts to develop naturism.
One problem with clubs is that in most areas there is not enough nudist density to support them. Consequently, even in the LA metro area of 8 million people, we have one landed club. I have to drive 50 miles to get to it because real estate is too expensive to have it anywhere near the city.
Another is the that some clubs don't want to grow or change or market themselves to young people. That is a sure formula for gradual extinction. OTOH, many do want to grow but don't understand marketing very well. We fight over a slice of the existing nudist community but the community doesn't get expanded.
Clubs are too much akin to ghettos or reservations for my taste. Keep to ourselves, keep our heads down, don't make waves, keep the closet door mostly closed. That isn't a problem with the clubs so much as a problem with nudists in general. Life is too easy in the camp. They don't feel the fire other small minorities feel to fight for their share of the public table.
If there is a future for nudism in most parts of the country, it is in nonlanded clubs, individuals who recreate in the nude on their own, and special events like the WNBR.
Clubs undoubtedly have their place, and of course the quality will vary with the operators and membership. But I think the wide disparity evidenced by the UK figure, between naturists and club members, is more reflective of the non-membership of anything, not just naturists. Once upon a time club membership was a social thing, whether the general social club or specific interest group, but over the past 50 years we’ve witnessed a trend away from this, I think in large part because people don’t want to commit to an organisation when life today is so much more varied than way back when.
Some activities, of course, require organisation and club membership - sports spring to mind as to play the game requires team mates and facilities. But naturism in particular needs no special facilities, we just take our clothes off!
Peter, I think you are right in that naturism needs no special facilities to be practised on a personal level. Perhaps we are too focused on our own personal needs rather than the naturist community as a whole. Strength in numbers might actually have some positive consequences. It is hard to change society's ideas and misconceptions about naturism if we only sit naked in our homes with the curtains closed.
"It is hard to change society's ideas and misconceptions about naturism if we only sit naked in our homes with the curtains closed." Yes true, Steve. But by the same token it is hard to change society's ideas and misconceptions about naturism if we only sit naked behind the tall hedges and locked gates of the naturist club!
I too have been accused of being anti-clubs, which is also not true. And I suspect my criticism of them has been largely responsible for that perception among some (not all) club folks. So, for the record once again, I am not anti-clubs. But I AM anti-stagnation and have little patience with anyone unwilling to adapt with the times.
As you say, the clubs offer amazing facilities and camaraderie and I've almost always enjoyed my times spent visiting them (on a couple of occasions I found one club in particular a bit cliquey). And they do offer, as you say, a space which some feel safer in. And for those reasons the clubs do still have a role to play.
I think that what the clubs fail to realise is that the main reasons they were formed in the first place are becoming less of an issue today. At one stage, even as recent as 10 to 15 years ago, being naked in public spaces carried a very real risk of arrest and legal consequences, even without any obscenity being committed. And society in general largely regarded folks running around naked with each other to be somewhat perverted, or at least weird. So clubs were pretty much essential to get around these attitudes - especially in urban and suburban areas.
But, today, attitudes are changing and those reasons for existing are slowly fading. The Justice Dept and Police are now realising that, in many appropriate locations and without any lewd behaviour, simple nudity is harmless and certainly not a crime. With very few exceptions, people can enjoy their pursuit of naturism / nudism/ clothes-free / (call it what you may) in places local to them, without the fees and obligations of club membership.
I believe that, for clubs to survive into the future, they need to have a hard think about their current relevance and be prepared to adapt and change.
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone
If your time to you is worth savin'
And you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'
Great valid points about the operation of these landed clubs. They are a business, not just someone's hobby. Our club, OakLake Trails has grown substantially in the last 4 years because of all the things mentioned and offers a secure place for family nudity as well as acceptance for all.
Thanks for sharing this. You make some valid point about landed clubs resorts what ever are are calling this em these days they have an important role to play in the continuation of naturism. Sometimes disagreement on something’s gets perceived as disagreement on everything