Why Attending Naked Events is Rad!

We’ve talked before about the positive effects that running around naked can have on you whether it’s positive mental health, an increase in body positivity, or just simply the lack of laundry and clothing purchasing making an impact on the environment.

But I think the most profound effects that I have seen is in the community that we’ve built around this practice.

Part of the wonderful side of nude vacations and events is that you get to be socially naked with your community. And I think that when everyone’s goal is the same: to have a respectful and good time everyone wins.

After we did Jeremy’s podcast on PTSD and it’s affects on his recovery I started thinking about my own experiences with naturism and how it has positively affected me and I wrote a blog post about it.

A few years back I was able to attend one of the. most epic events of my life: Nudestock.

I’ve always loved the 60’s (the sex drugs and rock ‘n roll part) so when we had the opportunity to hit up our local nudist park and attend this epic event I was all in.

I stocked up on edibles on my way and layed in the grass for three days high AF listening to live bands.

I can’t wait to throw events of my own.

DISCLAIMER: This podcast episode might make you wet yourself laughing.

episode 8 coming soon!

Download our handy dandy guide to getting started getting naked!

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How to Throw a Safe Skinny Dipper Event

First, download our handy dandy guide to getting started!

HOW TO SAFELY NAVIGATE OR THROW NUDE SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Social Proof

I have found a recurring theme in this community and that is that the best places get talked about. If you ask anyone in the Skinny Dippers Club what their favorite places to be naked are, chances are they are all going to agree on a few main spots.

Go for the spots with high praise that you see people talking about over and over again. You’ll end up having a better time in the end.

Bring a Buddy

Check out the place a few times first. Make sure it’s a safe space for your guests.
Set clear expectations so that newbies understand what they are getting into. I.e. you may encounter a nude person at the front desk. Bring a towel to sit on (wraps are fantastic!) etc.
Check on local laws just in case. This activity is just like smoking weed – in some states it’s legal and in some states you’ll end up in the slammer.
The best scenario is that there are some great community or event guidelines. If there ISN’T we have provided some for you! >>TOUCH ME

HOST YOUR OWN EVENT

You don’t have to be a part of anything (organization or club) to host a nude event. It could be as simple as inviting friends that are curious over for a night of strip poker. And who won’t strip for someone else to cook for them? Naked dining is where it’s at.

If you aren’t too sure, try it via Zoom or make it an apron-only dinner instead. Those that are unsure can cover up and those that don’t care can use their apron to sit on!

Understand the Mental Health and Body Positivity that can come with having tried Naturism on multiple occasions.

Do your homework: Want to really dive in? Listen to a few of our podcast episodes to get a little history and understanding of the naturist movement

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Naturism and its Positive Effects on Mental Health

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When I think about why we do what we do with Skinny Dippers Club and the Global Naturist Alliance, it actually has little to do with being a nudist and everything to do with community. Naturism, for me, is where environmentalism, social nudism, and feminism collide.

Mandy Zelinka

Skinny Dippers Club

How did you get started in Social Nudism?

I’m a lifelong entrepreneur. Ask me a question, and I’ll likely break the answer down to marketing. I’m a total nerd that loves market research and business strategy as much as I love a perfect red lip.

But here’s the thing. Entrepreneurship can be hella lonely.

A few years back, I worked so hard on my business that I kept pushing the need to write a speech for Alt Summit back. The further I pushed back writing the speech, the more my anxiety rose. I was a wreck.

Alt Summit is a big deal for a creative entrepreneur. It’s held in Palm Springs every year, and it brings out the most creative of the creatives. The 20% of the 20%. The top 4% of the creatives of entrepreneurship. It’s like a gathering of Weiden & Kennedy wanna-be’s. It’s an important event.

And I had two weeks to deliver a speech that I had yet to write. I felt like a failure.

When Jeremy told me not to worry about the speech and instead head to a boutique clothing-optional hotel in Palm Springs, I didn’t blink an eye. I wasn’t a nudist, but I also wasn’t even close to producing a speech. I was just too burnt out on life to do anything but say, “Sure. I can still wear my bikini, right?”

I would gladly take the offer of a real vacation, but I wasn’t about to give in to that whole *running around naked* thing.

I was mostly pissed at myself because Alt Summit was founded by @DesignMom, an absolute badass on Twitter. I wouldn’t say I liked feeling like I let her down. It sucked because I really admire her.

But I also knew in my heart that this was the right decision. I already felt like this was going to be a life-changing vacation, and it was.

The mental health benefits combined with body positivity are the number one reason I think more people should get into running around naked outside (or inside!) It was the no. 1 reason my husband was finally able to survive his PTSD demons. It’s nearly alleviated my need for drugs to combat ADHD and anxiety. And I’ve always been pretty body-positive, but I must tell you that being socially naked takes it to a whole new level of comfort.

And for both of us, the reason this works so well is the community. Having been a status quo disruptor my whole life, I get bored by ordinary people. And Jeremy has been able to find like-minded folks like never before.

Naturism, as well as our Skinny Dippers Club, is phenomenal for anyone needing a mental health break, whether that’s the ability to step outside naked or simply having a community of people to hang out pantsless with at your fingertips.

Running around naked makes hanging out with friends a lot more fun. When you can drop the pretenses as fast as you drop your drawers you’re headed for fun faster.

In life, you can either laugh, or you can cry.

I prefer to have fun.

Thank you for being here.

From one of my former students:

“You won’t be disappointed. Mandy is the cool kid and the “nerd” wrapped in one. She’s brilliant, witty and trips out on metrics to move the needle forward in business. The best part is that she understands marketing and people and that’s vital if you want to grow.”

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My Unsolicited Thoughts on Diversity

There is a lot of attention focused on diversity in the naturism/nudism community. Strangely, it seems to be a debate. Some in the community seem to think there’s no work to be done. Being a naturist is inherently diverse and open. The idea of stripping off your clothes is both a literal and figurative shedding of the things that separate us. Others in the community think bold social justice statements need to be made. It needs to be clear that all races, colors, and gender identities are welcomed participants in naturism. Those open, affirming, and diverse policies or positions should be plainly visible and advocated on anything community facing. I frequently listen to naturist podcasts and read naturist blogs. One of the questions that consistently comes up is, “how do we make the community more diverse?” Great question, and I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, people of color don’t have the answers you might be seeking.

I spent a few years as a substance abuse counselor. That’s a hard job. It is even more challenging for those who were struggling with addiction. I helped a few, and others reminded me of the proximity to the powerlessness of which is the human experience. The people I somehow managed to help frequently told me one of the single most important things I ever did was help them find their root cause or reason for substance use. One person in particular that I will never forget told me, “you helped me see this in a way I never had before; I was medicating my mental health and traumas just as I would take Tylenol for a headache.” What’s the point of that? It’s to say perhaps in our questions regarding diversity in naturism; we are asking good questions but not necessarily the right questions. We ask questions about the issue of diversity, but we aren’t asking questions that get us to the root (the why) of the diversity issues within the naturist community.

The majority of the articles or podcasts I have listened to thus far invites a person of color to talk about their experience and ask how or what we should do. That is the wrong question asked to the wrong person. Let me elaborate. We all exist in the shadow and legacy of systemic racism. It’s not that black people do not enjoy naturism or camping or the outdoors in general. It is, however, another way in which black people were excluded and lacked safety. That exclusion led to a separation from ‘mainstream’ activities, thus removing that activity from the cultural lexicon. Black people are constantly evaluating their safety: their mental safety, emotional safety, physical safety, and the safety of their loved ones. So perhaps a better question to ask white people in positions of leadership within naturism should be, “how can we stop unknowingly continuing to exist in, or perpetuate, the legacy of systemic racism and segregation?”

It is important to remember that in many spaces that you often find yourself in today, black people were actively shunned, and that is as recent as 50 years ago.

When black people encounter or inhabit a space where they are alone and outnumbered by white people, years of personal and inherited trauma surface. It wasn't that long ago that being in an all-white space meant sudden death or bodily injury. Sadly, that is still the case in certain scenarios. Most clubs are in rural areas where there is a lot of privacy. Rural areas tend to be dangerous for black people, and as a result, we stay away.

Passive Bull

Skinny Dippers Club Member

As recently as July of 2020, a black man was assaulted by a gang of white men that attempted to lynch him in Indiana, and those men were not arrested. What was supposed to be an evening of star-gazing and connecting with nature turned into horror – another trauma. If I were him, would I ever go back to that same spot and attempt camping, having experienced that? Hell no is an understatement.

Advancements in technology and the internet, which have connected us in ways unimaginable 30 years ago, have provided us a sense of rapid progress that does not actually exist. Has progress been made? Absolutely! But progress has not been nearly as swift as we all thought. The events of 2020: George, Ahmad, Breonna, and more opened our collective eyes to that very fact.

Because of those events, the more appropriate question leaders in the naturist community should ask would be, "How can we create, include, post, or share our message as a community that clearly communicates to people of color that they are safe?"

Passive Bull

Skinny Dippers Club Member

The very real and unfortunate reality of the black experience of having to navigate safety means internal dialogue such as:
“Are you in the wrong neighborhood? Don’t end up in the wrong area.”

“Make sure if you are going to be on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, you dress nicely and drive a car that looks like you belong there. For the love of God, don’t put your hands in any pockets or bags. You will be watched, so stay visible.”

“If you wear a hoodie, don’t wear the hood at night. Wear a beanie instead. Make sure your face is as visible and non-threatening as possible even though your existence in itself is a perceived threat.”

The list goes on so long it would be impossible to write them all, so for now, they’ll just remain non-negotiable lessons occupying real estate in my long-term memory.

I listened to a podcast in which a black man described his experience at a naturist camp with Trump flags flying. He expressed his feelings of a lack of safety or, at minimum, a certain level of discomfort. Leaders of clubs and organizations should be asking, "Is the display of symbols that communicate a lack of safety for people of color something we should allow?" "In addition to the symbols that are well-known, what symbols are currently out there that communicate to people of color they are not safe that we are not aware of?"

Passive Bull

Skinny Dippers Club Member

People in marginalized communities are professional code breakers. They have an acute ear for dog whistles. They scan your newsfeeds, your websites, and anything else community facing for evidence or confirmation if they are safe or not. People of color will always notice the following:

Language: In the dark ages, when I was in college, and I would go to the bars with friends, they used language like “Dress code enforced. No excessively baggy jeans, no sports shirts or hats, no beanies, no shorts, no jerseys, no shoes that can be considered sport like.” This was all language used to make it explicitly clear urban styled individuals – which is a dog whistle in itself – were undesired customers. Does your language communicate safety? I read an article, I believe, over on the AlmostWild blog, that pointed out what is seemingly innocuous language “family-friendly” is coded language to communicate to the LGBTQ population this place is not for you. In practice, the naturism community probably uses it to detract and repel those who are part of ‘the lifestyle.’ However, as a result of that language. Many LGBTQ people split off and created their own organizations like Gay Naturists International.

Imagery: Does your imagery proudly display people of color? Many websites that I have come across have a lot of white people and a lot of thin, conventionally attractive women. Think of the message being communicated to people of color and women that don’t fit in that thin, perky-boobed, blonde box. I have seen roughly zero people of color on any naturist website wearing nothing but smiles and enjoying themselves with one another and with their white friends. I have seen zero (obviously) gay, lesbian or trans people wearing nothing but a smile on any of the naturist club or organization websites. That is either by choice or neglect.

Events: What City/Town/State or Country are you going to? What venue are you having events? Is that an establishment that has a history of discrimination or segregation? “What message does this venue communicate?” Are you having events at lifestyle resorts but chastise members of the lifestyle community? Are you hosting events in the rural south? That should be a clear no-brainer people of color will stay far away from that. Do you want to welcome LGBTQ people but hosting an event in an extremely hostile place like the Caribbean? When I considered joining on with the Black Naturists Association, I saw them hosting events in Jamaica. News flash! I can literally be murdered in Jamaica because I like boys…is your organization for me? Probably not. So now, as both a black and gay man, I perceive myself to be unsafe in mainstream naturist organizations because of my race and unsafe as part of the black organization because of my sexuality. Maybe that isn’t true at all, but that’s the message communicated to me via these respective communities.

Music: What music are you playing? Are you playing a mix of tunes that cater to everyone? Are you mixing oldies, country, rock, yacht rock, easy listening with some pop, R&B, jazz, and yes, even hip hop? Fun fact, black people enjoy all types of music. Excluding perceived black music from your playlists communicates your desire to exclude them. Those choices of music genre exclusion seem innocent, unnoticeable, just mundane choices of the playlist curator. Yet, they scream very loudly to people of color that they are in your space, not everyone’s space.

Representatives: Who has a platform or loud voice representing your community and/or organization? It is someone that is known to be complacent with racism or, worse, actively racist? Is it someone that considers the person of color’s experience an exaggeration? Is it someone that says one thing publicly and does another thing privately? Is it someone resistant to positive change?

On another podcast I listened to, the host interviewed a board member for the Black Naturist Association. He asked her, “why the need to have the Black Naturist Association? Doesn’t that further separate and segregate.” Of course, there was absolutely no malice in his question, but it, again, was the wrong question. Organizations like BNA or GNI exist to create a safe space for people whose safety was (or is) not readily apparent.

You can’t be what you can’t see. You can’t be a thriving, open, affirming, diverse community of naturists if you don’t present yourself (and are seen) as such. Diversity doesn’t start with the marginalized population; it begins with the system. Diversity isn’t the collective person of color’s problem to solve, fix, or answer. It can’t be. The problem, or the legacy, that is the lack of diversity within the naturist community is not the creation of people of color. The naturism community struggles with diversity issues because it has existed comfortably with no real need or reason to ask the right questions. Maybe that is a question in itself. “Why has the naturism community existed so comfortably this long without being diverse?” Could it be the answer to that root question is because, on some level, the community likes things just the way it is?

You can't be what you can't see. You can't be a thriving, open, affirming, diverse community of naturists if you don't present yourself (and are seen) as such. Diversity doesn't start with the marginalized population; it begins with the system.

Passive Bull

Skinny Dippers Club Member

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The Flag You Fly

"If you have an opportunity to use your voice you should use it."

Samuel L. Jackson

Jeremy and I get asked a lot if we are bisexual because of our use of the Rainbow Flag.

Last summer, I got evicted from my family’s property partly since we put it up on their Flag Pole. I was told to take down the ‘fruit flag.’ (I then disowned that side of the family for obvious reasons.)

When I first started building this community, I decided to use Instagram as the primary way to find you guys. I did this for a few reasons. Firstly, I used to teach Instagram courses, so I understand how powerful it can be. Secondly, it has a way of pre-qualifying people that Twitter can’t do. (You see people – their photos, their videos – and you get a much better picture -sorry for the pun – of what kind of nudist they are.)

But the problem with having an open Instagram account is that as a woman, it’s an open invitation for people to abuse the space and send you unwanted DM’s of people’s parts. And if you’re really lucky, you’ll also get abused with words. I finally couldn’t take it, so I shut it down.

I told Jeremy, “If this is what being a nudist is, then I don’t want any part of it.”

I took a few weeks and re-strategized.

I grew up with Prince, Viva Glam, and an obsession with Madonna’s Truth or Dare. I’m no prude, but dude – running around naked isn’t an invitation for abuse. I re-opened our Instagram account around the time of PRIDE and thought, “I need a bold symbol to tell people who we are from the get-go.” I kept the account closed and only allowed those in that I had already pre-qualified from our previous account. This strategy worked well.

We love everybody – as long as you aren’t an asshole.

I’m proud to use a symbol that means equal rights for everybody. And if you have privilege, you should use it for good.

Otherwise, you’re just an asshole. And the world has enough of those already.

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Happy Nude Year!

I know that Biden winning the election in the states isn’t going to solve all of our US problems. But I can still be optimistic.

Biden appointing Deb Haaland, the secretary of the Interior, is a step in the right direction.

“As president of the United States, Roosevelt’s obsession with the physical supremacy of white manhood would influence his policy decisions.

Roosevelt saw the West as a place to be won, and in his view, white Americans had already won it – by conquering both the terrain and the Native people. To Roosevelt, it was white Americans’ honored duty to preserve and protect the beauty of Western lands for future generations of white Americans to enjoy. Roosevelt claimed for the United States tens of millions of acres previously promised to Native people, land that had been stewarded by Native people for countless generations. They became our national forests and parks.”

– Mediocre by Ijeoma Oluo

Deb Haaland, the first Native American Interior Secretary. Finally, something to celebrate.

Skinny Dippers promotes the practice of social nudism at resorts, clubs, and places where social nudism is legal.

Let’s protect and enjoy our natural world together!

A portion of your Skinny Dippers’ membership goes to our partnership with Leave No Trace.

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics provides proven, research-based solutions for the protection of the natural world.

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Where to Get Nude in San Fran

This week we take you through the Redwoods and to two San Francisco Nude Beaches.

Because we went over the holidays and in the winter there were actually many clothed tourists at both Marshall and Baker Beach. We are told that is very NOT typical. But, it explains all the clothing we have on.

Cheers!

Courtesy of Thrillist Magazine:

Marshall Beach

Level of Nudity:The Full Monty

What You’ll See: Marshall Beach earns the distinction of being a mainly gay nude beach and having one of the best views of the bridge, so if both of those are your thing, get on it.

The Nude Part: Apparently all of it, though in particular the driftwood/rock cabana things that some past nude sunbathers have built.

Baker Beach

Level of Nudity: Game of Thrones

What You’ll See: As the largest urban nude beach, this place attracts the largest crowds and almost a Burning Man-type atmosphere with artwork, drums, and frisbee. Disclaimer: if you act like a weirdo and just stare at people, you will be told to leave.

The Nude Part: When you get to the beach, go to the right, past the “Hazardous surf, undertow, swim at your own risk” sign.

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DIY Soaking Tub

Over the summer when I was working on my parents 40 acres alone with Scout and Magic (my cousin’s horses) Jeremy hooked me up with this sweet soaking tub set-up since the property lacked shower facilities. (I used the outdoor hose for showers and dishes.)

We thought you might want the deets for the set-up. It was so good we brought it home to recreate it. Enjoy!

Parts List using Ferg’s options: (local tax not included)

Stock Tank $175

Heater $129

Batteries $8

Propane tank $0

Pump $25

Hose/fittings $20

Total $357

The Soaking Tub: ($175 our option)

We went with a 6” stock tank from Tractor Supply for $175. Unfortunately, it’s an in store pickup. This works perfectly for two people because you can both stretch out your legs and soak all the way up to your collarbone.

You can go with a bigger stock tank or even use an old claw foot tub.

The heater: ($129 our option) – don’t forget D cell batteries! ($7.99)

We used a Tankless Water Heater, specifically a Gasland Outdoor water heater. This one provides continuous hot water right from the source, and with the addition of a recirculating pump, you can reheat the water to really get it warm without wasting a bunch of propane. This unit runs at 1.58 gallons per minute. So consider the time it takes to fill an empty tub. Ours was about 100 gallons, so it took about an hour to fill, then it took a little bit to recirculate the water to bring it up to temperature.

Propane options: (we used a tank from our BBQ) We pay about $2.59/gallon for propane

This may be considered cheating a little, but I figured I didn’t need to have a dedicated propane tank just for this use, so I used one we had for our BBQ and fire ring. We actually have several because we cook and campfire ring so frequently.

Recirculating Pump: ($25 our option)

In full transparency, the first pump I ordered I didn’t like. I was an external transfer pump and it is really loud. So, we just ordered a submersible pump. The water will deaden the noise number one, and number two, it makes the setup really portable for any impromptu soaking tub arrangement. We’ve ordered a Hygger quiet aquarium pump.

Hose and fittings: ($20 our option)

Your setup may be different, but I needed a short section of hose and a couple of garden hose ends to make it all work. They’re easy. Pocket knife and screwdriver easy to install.

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All the leaves are brown…

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Kaftco Kaftans

www.Kaftco.com

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Bulgogi Tacos

_{Bulgogi Tacos}

_{My dude was trying to impress me (he did) with a recipe he got from some cute chick off Instagram (who was not me.)

And it was just so delicious (and easy) that I wanted to share it because now I dream in bulgogi taco and if you make it YOU WILL TOO.}

*Buy Bulgogi Sauce

*Get good quality beef and marinate it in the Bulgogi sauce

TOP WITH:

Daikon raddish

Carrot

Cilantro

Cabbage.

Jalapeno.

Avocado.

Das it!

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Nude BnB’s USA: California, Joshua Tree

Mojave Rosa

Situated on 2.5 acres it is conveniently centrally located to everything you’d want to visit in the Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley area.

Need to get away and finish that screenplay, presentation or project? Use our wifi and get to work!

Romantic getaway? Listen to music outside while you make a meal in our modern kitchen, watch the sunset by the fire pit with some wine, then Netflix n’ chill.

Just want to relax by yourself? Have a cold beer, doze on the swing, then sit in the hot tub and gaze at the stars.

Mojave Rosa

Entire house hosted by Mojave Rosa

6 guests2 bedrooms2 beds1 bath