In previous years, most of my outdoor nude recreational activities occurred either out at the pasture or during my early morning running in nearby new housing developments where no one lives yet – and more often than not, it was by myself.  Well, things are different now.  For one, I have Brian who embraces nude recreation and living every bit as much as I do.  For another, we now belong to a nudist campground that we are able to get to fairly frequently.  And closer to home, our patio is now surrounded by a privacy fence so that we can enjoy sunbathing nude right outside our door. 

Early in the year we started making plans to build the privacy fence around our patio.  It’s not the best situation and it’s a very small area, but, hey, it’s right there at our doorstep whenever we want.  Just open the door and step out.  Plenty good enough for sunbathing and just being outdoors for awhile – that is, when it’s warm. 

In late winter, we decided to go ahead and join the nudist campground that I’ve written so much about.  We were a little concerned that we wouldn’t be able to get over there often enough to make it worthwhile, but that turned out to not be a problem at all.  In fact, we went even more times than I had hoped we would.  We were so excited about being real official bona fide members that we went over a couple of times on fairly warm days in the spring for daytrips.  This was when it was still too cold at night to camp (at least for us). 

Then when summer finally arrived, so did a long string of rainy weekends and I thought we were never going to get to camp.  Finally, we got a break in the weather and decided to go for it.  I had already been working on getting my best friend Julie to go with us to the campground sometime during the summer.  I wanted her to experience a true nudist environment on a larger scale than just a few close friends.  It took a little arm twisting, but I managed to talk her into going with us that first weekend out.  She was a little reluctant about the whole thing not only because this would be her first experience with nude recreation in a real nudist environment, but also because of the camping.  She was afraid she would miss all of her creature comforts.  I was more worried about her having a miserable time because of our inexperience with camping.  This would be our first time out and I wasn’t sure we knew enough about what we were doing. 

It all went pretty well, both the camping and her experience.  She had a great time after starting out being more nervous than I thought she’d be.  At one point I asked her if she wanted her clothes, but in her usual way of dealing with nervousness by cracking jokes, she just said she might need to hug them so they wouldn’t miss her too much.  That was only during the first few hours.  After that, she was fine.  I think it helped that my friends, Amanda and Angie were there that weekend (I’ve written about them).  Julie hit it off well with them – especially Amanda; her being closer to Julie’s age – and the four of us had some good times hanging out that weekend.  I’m writing all of this up in a separate story. 

Brian and I went camping at the campground a number of times during the summer, but it never worked out for Julie to go with us again.  Hopefully, it will next summer.  Also, we never got our timing right to be there at the same time that our friends, Ann and Jim were (I’ve written about them, too).  Their kids are getting bigger and more involved in sports and other activities that make it harder for them to get away.  But we managed to see them a number of times during the year; a few times at some of the kids’ activities and a couple of times they invited us out to their place to swim and hang out.  That’s always fun. 

Most recently we watched their kids overnight while they went to Jim’s company Christmas party and then stayed overnight at a hotel afterwards.  This has sort of turned into a tradition since they and I first met way back when.  That first year, I just happened to be talking to Ann on the phone when she mentioned that their babysitter had cancelled on them at the last minute and so they weren’t going to the party.  They weren’t hinting at me stepping in or anything – in fact, she said it hadn’t even occurred to her to ask me to watch the kids for them.  Anyway, after we were done talking, I got the idea that I could watch the kids for them, not just for the evening but through the next morning as well, giving them the whole night out if they wanted.  I had to juggle my work schedule at the pool a little, but that’s what I did and we’ve been doing this ever since. 

Last year, Brian and I watched the kids together, and this year, the kids wanted to come spend the night at our place for a change.  We all had a lot of fun doing that even though our place is not nearly so well equipped for kids as theirs.  Quite a change going from just the two of us to just the FIVE of us!  Whew! – having kids will be a major, major change when it happens.  But I’ll tell you for sure - I’m counting on having them one at a time!

Speaking of kids…and no, I’m not pregnant, just in case you’re wondering…but there are a lot of people in Brian’s family that think I should be.  That all came about when we went to their big (BIG) family gathering for Thanksgiving.  One of Brian’s cousins a little older than us had a baby about 10 or 12 weeks old at the dinner.  She was trying to eat, but the baby was very fussy.  I volunteered to hold him while she ate dinner so I then took him and went to another room where it was quieter.  I just held him and talked to him and sang to him and he finally went off to sleep – he was so worn out from all his crying.  Then Brian came in and sat with me.  We were talking quietly and he was feeding me some pie and missing my mouth on purpose and things like that.  Anyway, people noticed us like that with the baby and jumped to the conclusion that we needed to start our family.  I didn’t mind all the talk, but it embarrassed Brian’s mom a little bit.  She apologized for all of it later, but we assured her it really didn’t bother us.  We also assured her that we do plan to give her grandchildren someday, but for now we’re still building our marriage.  Several of my older friends have told me that what kids need the most growing up is for their parents to have a strong marriage. 

Brian’s parents came over and stayed with us a couple of weekends this year.  Like last year, they came over when Brian’s sister moved back here to school in the fall and then again for Parent’s Day weekend at her school (my alma mater).  I’m glad they enjoy staying with us in spite of the fact that we can’t offer them nearly the same quality of hospitality that they offer us when we’re there. 

And speaking of Brian’s sister, things are going well with her and us.  She’s very successful in school and enjoying it so much along with a happy social life.  We got our own washer and dryer earlier this year, so she comes over to do her laundry rather than have to wait around to use the machines in the dorm that are expensive and don’t work half the time.  We’re glad we can help her out in this way as well as give her a decent meal once in a while and a break from all the hubbub of dorm life. 

We had a sort of breakthrough with her this year.  It was about something that had happened a long time ago (didn’t involve either of us) and had apparently been eating away at her.  Finally it just came out one day when she and her best friend were over and the three of us were talking.  Turns out, I was inadvertently not helping the situation at all.  Her friend and I (mostly her friend) talked it out with her and things have been going much better ever since – not just with us, but in all other aspects of her life as well.  (I feel so bad that I didn’t pick up on it in the first place.)  

She even called us one night not long after she had gone home for the summer – said she missed us.  Who would’ve thought?  But I’m really glad that she considers us to be worthy of trust.  It’s fun to see her and Brian growing a relationship, as well.  I don’t know too much about what they were like as kids, but they’re a lot closer now than they were when I first came into the picture.  They joke around a little bit with each other now and often call each other “Sis” and “Bro”.  Cute! 

And speaking of Brian’s sister’s best friend (you know, I’m going to have go give these two some names if I keep writing about them!), she comes over with Brian’s sister every so often and she’s a very interesting person.  She asks lots of pointed questions – always in a friendly, non-threatening way – and then listens intently to everything you say in response.  Then when you’re finished, she just smiles in a way that sort of says, “Thanks!  I enjoyed hearing your answer” without any sort of judgmental overtones or anything but pure interest.  If she finds your answer particularly enjoyable, she smiles even bigger and looks to the other person and smiles, too, to gauge their reaction.  I’m having a hard time describing what I mean here, but it’s enjoyable to talk to someone like this.

Anyway, about the second or third time she was over, it was just the three of us hanging out and she says in her slow inquisitive manner, “I hear you guys are nudists.  What does that mean exactly?”  Whoa!  How could you ask for a better opening than that to explain yourself?  Well, I took my time to offer an honest, open explanation and her open demeanor simply encouraged me on as I explained what we do, why, and what it means to us.  It’s so refreshing to discuss anything with someone that readily puts aside any preconceived notions in order to really listen and learn what you think and know about something.  The other cool thing about it was that it was another chance for Brian’s sister to hear me explain myself. 

When I was done, she smiled her usual accepting smile and had a few more questions, which I did my best to answer.  Later, as they were leaving, I told her to come back anytime.  She said thanks and then added, “…and you don’t have to be dressed on my account if you don’t want to.”  Well, the next time Brian’s sister called to say she was coming over and asked if it was OK if her friend came along, I said, “Of course.”  I was nude at the time so that’s how I stayed.  That’s been my policy for how I am with Brian’s sister anyway.  When they got here, the friend didn’t seem at all surprised or uncomfortable and again, the questions flowed very openly.  This was on a warm late springtime Saturday shortly before they were both to go back home for the summer.  We were out on the patio enjoying the warm sunshine and it was a perfect setting to be casually explaining my reasoning and preference for nude recreation and living as I was living it. 

It was after school started again in the fall that the friend came over with Brian’s sister the next time and again, it was a warm sunny Saturday.  There were a funny series of conversations leading up to it (long story), but the end result was that we were all out on the patio and the friend joined me in nude sunbathing – to the mild disapproval of Brian’s sister.  But it was a perfect time and place for her to try it – she knew that - and she says she really wants to repeat the experience.  So far that hasn’t happened again, but I feel fairly confident that it will.  It’s a good feeling to help someone else realize a simple joy that they might not have discovered otherwise. 

Well, that was my main success in introducing someone brand new to nude recreation and living for the year.  There was also Julie, although that was more like extending or expanding her experience.  And then I sort of spontaneously exposed (pun intended, sort of) my mother-in-law to it to a limited degree.  Yikes! – that took some nerve.  It happened when they were staying with us the weekend that Brian’s sister moved back here to school (mentioned earlier).  We were all going out to dinner that evening.  I was running late (long story) and was hurrying to shower and dress.  I was in our bedroom and bathroom, she was out in the hallway, and Brian was trying to relay a conversation back and forth between her and me.  Finally, I just said for her to come on in.  She did and Brian left.  She didn’t realize that I was still “completely undressed” (as she put it), but that’s how I normally am when I’m doing my hair and make up so that’s how I stayed.  I acted in a completely normal manner just as though it wasn’t any big deal, which of course it wasn’t.  And all during that time, our conversation centered around what we were trying to talk about before via Brian – not my nudity.  So that was basically that (I’ll spare you the details).  We’re going to need to tell them about our preference for living this way someday anyway and I look at this as starting to pave the way. 

In addition to everything I’ve already mentioned, we did a lot of other fun things in the summer.  We went to concerts and games and other events like that as well as just hanging out with friends a lot.  We’re blessed to have a lot of friends and acquaintances – especially couple friends that we can both enjoy and relate to and grow closer to. 

I’m not so much into nude running in the new housing developments in our area anymore now that I have other outlets, so to speak.  The streets for the last part of the final development were paved this summer and I did run them nude once early one morning.  Now I can say that I have run them all (although who am I going to say that to?!).  Hey, we’re talking about a big area out there that has been developed over the last few years.  Wish I could run it all that way now.  I guess there was one other time this summer out there.  Brian and I were watching the running events of the Olympics one night and I talked him into going running with me out there real late.  When we got out there, we both ran nude up and down this one street that was way back in an out of way part of the development.  Fun!  Crazy, but fun.  I can’t believe he actually goes along with some of the crazy stuff I come up with. 

In celebration of our first anniversary, we took a week-long trip to Florida again this summer, although to a different place this time.  It’s so good to get away to a beach location and we had a lot of fun.  Now if we could just figure out a way to go more often.  It was actually the week before our anniversary that we went and I’m so glad we did, because the very next week was when the first hurricane came through.  I’m glad we weren’t there then although I felt very bad for the people that live there and underwent so much hardship. 

Then on the day of our anniversary, Brian had such wonderful things planned for us.  For one thing, he sent me flowers at work – a dozen red roses.  The card said: Thanks for making the last twelve months the happiest months of my life.  How does he always know just what to say and how to say it to make me feel so loved and appreciated?  He’s so amazing.  (Sigh)  I hate it when I cry at work. 

The holiday season was lots of fun with lots and lots of goings on.  Thanksgiving with family (mentioned that already) and a number of Christmas and New Years parties and gatherings with co-workers, friends, and family. 

Oh, and speaking of the holidays, I wanted to tell you about another thing that happened during that time.  An old friend of Julie’s and mine called me up just out of the blue one day.  A total surprise.  I’m telling you about this because it’s a friend that I’ve written about – I called her Shannon in one of my stories.  Anyway, Julie and I had both pretty much lost touch with her over the past two or three years.  Her parents still live in my town and I’d run into her mom occasionally.  I always left it that she should have Shan call me whenever she was in town for a visit.  Well, she did!  It turned out she was engaged and she and her fiancé both were visiting her family for a few days.  We invited them over and got to meet him and they got to meet Brian and we had a great time hanging out and getting acquainted/re-acquainted.  Her fiancé is a really cool guy and he and Brian hit it off great.  Incidentally, we tried to get a hold of Julie, too, but couldn’t reach her. 

Then a little later we received an invitation to their wedding.  Julie did, too.  But the thing was, they were getting married the weekend right before Christmas and not only that, it was there in the city where they live – a long way from us.  I wanted to go, of course, but it just didn’t seem feasible given the distance and the holidays.  Still, Brian and I talked seriously about it, but ruled it out.  Julie and I also talked about going together, but I was leaning away from it and although I still encouraged her to go, she said she wouldn’t go by herself.  I felt bad about it.  I knew Shannon and her fiancé both had lots of friends where they lived – they both had gone to school there and then had been living there since then.  But I knew that few if any of her old friends from our town would be there.  Finally, Brian convinced me I’d feel bad if I didn’t go, so Julie and I went and I’m glad we did. 

We flew down the day before the wedding.  We were invited to the bachelorette party and that was a lot of fun.  We got to meet all of Shannon’s friends from there and they’re cool.  We learned a lot about all of the crazy things they’ve done together in school and since.  Before long they were asking us to tell them about some of the stuff we had done together way back in the day.  That was all it took to set Julie off.  She and Shannon went back a lot farther together than I did; those two had grown up together so there was lots to tell – and believe me, Julie told it all.  She would start to tell something embarrassing on Shannon; Shan would beg her not to, but that just spurred her on all the more.  Then they both started telling things on each other – some of it I’d never heard before.  So funny!  All of us were rolling on the floor. 

The wedding was beautiful.  Shannon was an absolutely beautiful bride.  There was a dinner and dance afterward and we had lots of fun there, too.  We met so many people.  I know Shannon and her husband are going to be very happy together.  I just wish they didn’t live so far away so we could hang out.  I know we could all be good friends.  Anyway, we flew home the next day.  I’m glad we went, but I was glad to be home again – back with my husband.  And traveling with Julie?  Well let’s just say it’s anything but dull. 

So, that was my year.  It was all over the place (just like this story!), but that’s what keeps life interesting and fulfilling.  We’re looking forward to all the good things that 2005 will bring: lots of time with friends and family as well as lots of time for just the two of us.  Brian and I find that we have to be careful not to just focus in on each other, but also to make the effort to spend time with friends – both as a couple and individually.  We always need to be ready to initiate something.  People are important.  Relationships are what life is all about. 

Wishing you all the best in 2005!