I don’t understand the appeal of sunbathing?

I have a disability that means I feel the cold.

i fucking love sitting in the sun or lying on the sun or frankly doing anything in the sun because I’m in a lot less pain because it’s warm.

i am not vain.

I am fat, middle aged, and have a fuckload of scars.

Why do you need to understand it? Just accept we all like different things. It's not that difficult.

You remind me of the people on here who said they "have never understood the concept of Christmas pyjamas", or were "baffled by hot chocolate".

I am not sure what any of you are struggling with. It may be that the concepts truly are beyond your comprehension, in which case you just need to recognise that not all people like the same things, and don't struggle with the idea any further than that.

I used to really love it, 10 malignant melanomas and numerous lymph node removals later I think what an eejit I was.

1. You get the chance to prematurely age and damage your skin
2. increase your chances of skin cancer
3. you get to baste yourself in sun cream
4. or get painful sunburn especially on parts of your body that rarely sees the sun
5. or get sunstroke
6. to be amongst a bunch of strangers around a poolside or beach wearing effectively your underwear
7. to close your eyes, relax and be oblivious to your 7 year old child failing to come up for air in the deep end.
8. get massive depressed thinking how everyone else's bodies look so much better than your own.
9. or get perved at by some creep on the other side of the pool
10. or have your partner being the creep perving at other people on the other side of the pool.

Honestly what's not to like about sunbathing OP?

Also ASD but the OP said sunbathing and just lying in the sun which I would consider super dull.

But having a good book to read is completely different! That's a fun activity!

(I'd still rather be doing sports and in the water)

People like different things. I love the feeling of having a swim (sea or pool) then laying in the sun to dry off, whilst reading a good book! I’d never just lay there as I’d get bored, always have a book on the go.

I don't see the appeal either; smother yourself in smelly gloop or get skin cancer?
I can laze around & do nothing at home for free.

I love lying on a beach with warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. It’s such a lovely, gentle, natural experience. The warmth on your skin, the sound of the waves, the softness of the sand.. It’s just blissful.

I don’t like lying by a horrible, chemically pool with no breeze if it’s stinking hot.

There’s sunbathing and there’s sunbathing!

Yeah, I don’t understand the appeal of mountain biking or knitting jumpers or restoring old cars.

Fortunately, nobody is relying on my approval or understanding before they can crack on with enjoying whatever gives them pleasure in life.

Other people aren’t idiots for liking different things.

Autistic here. Love being in the sun. Sometimes I like a holiday doing stuff, sometimes I like to lie in the sun doing nothing but read or swim occasionally and recharge. Depends how knackered I am.

I love sitting\lying in the sun, people watching, daydreaming, watching the waves go in and out, just idling the day away. I will lie out a bit, shade a bit, pop in the sea or the pool, lie out to get dry. In the course of this I will get a tan.

I don't actually care if it makes me look a bit older, its a lovely feeling, the warmth and the absolute relaxation of it, and I will do it for the rest of my life. Life goals are to move permanently to Italy and sit with a group of old women on the shore line, chatting, and tanning our sun ravaged bodies.

Why do people always sound so sneery when talking about things like sunbathing; and act like their preference is so much more highbrow or more cultured but always just better?

FGS, people like different things. I have a similar argument with my mother too. I work in a very high pressured, fast moving job which is mentally draining, and requires long hours in front of a computer and on calls.
So I like time to myself on holidays, where I don't need to think or make decisions or be "on", and not have to be staring at screens. I just want to be still in body and mind for a while. The idea of traipsing round shops and towns and dealing with more things to do/see/go/try/watch/experience, however simple it seems to you, is exhausting for me.

How about you enjoy yourself in the pool (as is your choice) and just leave other people alone?

(BTW, I don't even sunbathe much myself. I tend to find nice quiet spots to read a book or people watch or just gaze into the distance.)

God forbid middle aged women do something they enjoy, eh?

Me too! It depends on the pool. I don't enjoy being right on top of people. I do enjoy a sea view or some palm trees. Got to have shade though. I don't tan I burn.

Also most middle aged women I know are not spending a fortune getting bikini ready. Wear the same bikini year on year.

I love the summer, love the warm feel of the sun on my skin, love the heavenly blue sky and I love wearing as few clothes as is decent. But I can't sunbathe to save my life. I'd rather be swimming in the sea or exploring, or eating and drinking! I can see the appeal if perhaps you've been unwell or had a really dreadful time of things. The act of doing nothing in the "healing" sun would be appealing under those circumstances. But I know a lot of people who spend their holidays mostly sunbathing and get all the necessary gear just for that purpose which would drive me nuts.

This is giving “pick me”.

Well you’ll be pleased to know that isn’t the norm. Apart from the bikini bit, people do these things every day with not a hint of sunbathing.

A lot of people find the sun’s warmth relaxing and the vitamin D is beneficial. People also enjoy reading to relax.

Is it just sunbathing or do you find it hard to understand why different people like different things?

Loved it when young, middle aged now and can’t stand the heat much rather be in the shade plus it saves my skin from ageing so I guess still vain.

Same. Also neurodivergent.

@Labubus do you enjoy just laying down with the purpose of just snoozing or daydreaming?

I like lounging in the shade but not being in the sun and sweating (which is what immediately happens!). If I have a book or something to listen to then I'm ok.

But that isn't everybodies idea of sunbathing. I love "sunbathing" in a quiet spot, preferably with the sound of waves lapping against the shore, and my Kindle loves it too 😁It doesn't mean that I can't do other things as well. Each to their own.

I quite enjoy it for a day or two on holiday. Just relax, feel the warmth on your skin, read a book for a bit, have a doze, chat to DP, people watch. Have a couple of beers, jump in the pool once in a while to cool off. It's just nice to spend some time in your own brain for a while while your body feels nice.

Wouldn't want to spend an entire week doing it though!

Totally agree, OP: I'm also autistic 🤣