..to want to swim naked

[notsocrates]

I am waaaaaay the wrong side of 40 and have never swum in a lake, river or pool unencumbered by clothes. Have I left it too late or should I throw caution to the wind, rip up my "To Do" list, head out to the nearest remote body of water and embrace wild swimming?

There are other things I want to do before I die that are a little more suited to my, ahem, great age and beauty (not). Should I start with those instead, I wonder, rather than risk frightening the horses?

When I went to the Sanctuary years ago xa nude woman swung on the swing....wasn't sure where to look!

I would do it if you want to, but join a club/read a book/website to do it safely.

Why is it called 'wild swimming'?

I live in New England and we swim in sea, lakes, rivers, waterfalls etc all summer - but we just called it swimming. Or is it wild swimming? Every town has an outdoor swimming area of some kind - either sea or lake or river.

And yes OP, you should definitely swim naked - it is lovely!

I made the mistake of doing it once in a beautiful pool in the hills above Nice - dark stary night - warm breeze

only I forgot to turn off the pool lights - and was soon sharing my dip with a small army of moths and daddy-long-legs - all of which stuck to me hair and body when I swiftly got out

can't beat a skinny dip though ...in the dark

There's no age limit! I skinny dip regularly in carefully chosen secluded spots. And sometimes in more exposed spots when there is no one around! Highly recommended.

I went for a naked swim in the sea in Cornwall about three weeks ago. It was great - I was down on a fairly secluded beach, sun was out, nobody around so I just thought... fuck it. Stripped off, jumped in, swam around and then dried off on my tshirt.

It was beautiful. Do it.

our local pool does naked swim Friday once a month.

they go down the slides and everything.

The secret if you get caught, by the way, is to cover your face not your genitals - people tend to recognise you more by the former than the latter.

It is the most liberating feeling - only tried it once (up til now) - after hiking up a mountain in South Africa years ago - we stopped and swam in a pool in a shaded mountain stream - still makes me feel calm just remembering.

Go and do it. Just go and do it. I dd just a few weeks ago and it was wonderful. I was in the Caribbean and had a life long dream to jump from a waterfall into a pool of water, whip off my cossie and swim. It took some planning but with the help of a very wordly wise and adventurous 70 year old American tour operatervit was made possible. It was the best part of my cruise and I will never ever ever forget it, or the lovely lady who helped to make one of my dreams come true.

Sorry about the typos. Am dangling baby grandson on my knee

I did it in the sea this year at Norfolk.

Do it. It's amazing.

Do it today. They say Weather's a'coming tomorrow.

Is my only words of warning...

Actually it's a good time to swim outdoors. The water has had all summer to warm up and no cold spell to cool it yet...,

Mid wales have loads of secluded waterfalls and pools , spent the whole day this summer introducing our two year old to wild swimming and did not see a single soul all day ( not brave enough to do it in the nip !)

we're off to Tenerife in Jan for a week. We have booked an apartment with a teeny private salt water heated pool - I'm soooo looking forward to bobbing about in the nude with a glass of vino on the side.

You'd look all types of eccentric if you covered your face

It's the equivalent of a 3 year old covering its eyes in hide and seek ...

I've done it when we've rented a villa with a private pool abroad. With the pool lights on when the kids are in bed. Would recommend it.

Swimming cossies are a very recent invention - think about the scene in Room with a View when they all go for a bathe. whip off your clothes and get in there - if anyone stares they're the ones behaving oddly, not you :)

OP - are you on Facebook?

Think about joining the fan page for the Outdoor Swimming Society and/or WOW (Women In a Open Water).

Lots of people who can advise you on best swimming spots in your area and I'm sure you'll find some fellow skinny dippers too

I remember it was like swimming in silk. Only did it once many years ago in a Thames' backwater when I was about 14. Only qualms were suppose someone came by and nicked my clothes.... o the shame of having to walk naked across fields and up the High Street to get home!!!! Don't think I ever told my mum as I'm sure I should have remembered her reaction!

It is the best way to swim, which I am able to do in spas in the Netherlands.

I've been swimming naked whenever I can (wthout scaring anyone) for the last 40+ years.

Go do it, it's lovely to feel the water on your skin, especially sea water.

Why is it called 'wild swimming'?

No idea - it used to be called swimming.

I did it once many years ago in the swimming pool of a commune.
It was wonderful. No idea why it felt so different, but it's something I'll not forget.

I'm another who thinks it's fab.
Used to often frequent naturist beaches pre DC.
We last swam naked last year in the private pool with our villa on holiday. DS 2 and 3 were "yay!" And joined right in. Almost pubertal DS1 was absolutely aghast until he saw how much fun it was, then he joined in.