Social media is a blessing and curse and when you scroll for five minutes and find that an hour actually went by, you realize you’ve fallen into its trap. With that I’ve closed the Twitter account and scaled these pages back to what they were meant to be, an informational site about goings on in Vermont related to clothing optional living and recreation.

Perhaps that’s boring or not revealing enough. I don’t know. But I do know that my time is spent getting out, doing things with the people I love, and also engaging in my daily responsibilities. Blogging about naturism, there are only so many ways to write about the same topic and there’s no way to make a living out of it. So, I’ll likely place my bets on publishing in N in future issues for now.

We are a vibrant community and there is a great online component to it, but when you fall down the rabbit hole, it’s tough to climb back out.

Climb out, I did. I’ll post occasionally here, but overall, please use this as the informational resource it was originally intended to be.

Peace.

Went by the parking lot for The Ledges and did not see any signs for the ground wasps as were up last Autumn. So, that’s a promising sign, but weather and obligations have kept us away from there so far this summer.

But I’m finding a way to finally have my own WNGD when needed, as our garden space is somewhat secluded. We live right near the road, but some creative thinking and design have allowed me a little time and space to be in nature as was intended.

Happy Summer, everyone!

It’s Father’s Day.

The traditional American role of father is to teach their boys to “man up,” and to protect their girls from anyone who shows interest in them. Hence, we live in a society that is rife with toxic masculinity and gender roles that have far outlived their value. In fact, the articles are legion that demonstrate that these “traditional” roles have brought much suffering generation after generation, when all that was really needed was a father to show love to their kids. To allow for vulnerability.

In addition to loving our kids as they are, it is just as important to teach kids to love themselves as they are – inside and out. In this way, having a clothing-optionalist house or going to clothing-optional venues teaches the normalcy of the human body. Rather than having unrealistic expectations about themselves or others, kids will see what is real and hopefully carry that into a world that will pepper them with imagery and messages that tell them they are less than, lack value, and are hideous.

Our house models self-acceptance. We are not a “nudist” family, per se, because we don’t prescribe a way of being. If one doesn’t want to wear clothes, so be it. If one does, that’s fine, too. We accept each other for who we are. And we demonstrate that being “as is” is good enough. There are many pressures in this world, and promoting the value of self-acceptance and love can be an important shield for the upcoming generations from the well-funded purveyors of body shame.

And in turn, the next generation could possibly create a more accepting and compassionate world.

Today’s the day. For those of you going – have fun! This is the tweet yesterday (original tweet 8:06 p.m., June 7, though it’s showing today’s date in the embed) from @WNBR_Montpelier for where to go today.

The weather looks great for tomorrow’s #WNBR in #Montpelier #VT. Hope you will join us, we meet at Freeride Bike Shop, 89 Barre St at 1 & ride at 2!

— @WNBR_Montpelier (@WNBR_Montpelier) June 8, 2019

Next Saturday 6/8/19 we ride! I hope you will join us, RT and spread the word. #Montpelier #WNBR meet at Freeride 89 Barre St Montpelier, VT at 1 PM, ride at 2 PM as bare as you dare! Let’s see if we can have more riders this year! pic.twitter.com/1sbM05JpDZ

— @WNBR_Montpelier (@WNBR_Montpelier) May 31, 2019

Haven’t been to the Ledges this year. Anyone know if they eradicated the aggressive wasp issue at the main park you have to walk through to get to the path?