We suspect freinds might be naturists

[guardsman]

OK folks looking for advice here.
My wife and I have been home naturists for many years and we go to Apollo beach on occasion but pretty much keep to ourselves. Very few people even know that we are naked at home a lot and are naked in front of our kids (17, 19, 22, & 24) often. We are very active in our Church and no one there knows. In fact, sadly we do not have any naturist friends that we can get together with. We hope to remedy that soon but that is a different story.

So here is the issue, there is a couple at Church that we are close to. They are about 15 years older than us but we get on very well. They have both said things that lead us to believe they spend some time at home naked too and we suspect they might be naturists at least at home. Does anyone have a suggestion of how to approach this with them without totally letting the cat out of the bag that we are naturist in case we are wrong about them?
Thanks &
Blessings,
Guardsman

[naturistgoatlover]

How about the direct approach:

"So, do you guys ever go around the house naked?"

-- goatlover

[SJJim]

There are many ways to explore their thoughts and actions regarding them being nude at home. You can use the weather to open a discussion, e.g. With it being so hot today clothes only make one feel more unconfortable. When I was young a groupe of my friends and I would enjoy skinny-dipping . And the list goes on and on. I feel sure that you can come up with some type of opening.

[Jon-Marc]

I don't think I would use the word "naked" since that word tends to have a negative feeling to it. I would say something like "You folks have said things that makes us think you might enjoy a little nude time at home. Is that so?" Then proceed according to their answer. They might be afraid of being "outed"--thinking admitting to it could be detrimental to their church affiliation. However, if they don't enjoy being nude and you've simply misunderstood something they said, you don't want to "out" yourself in case they might run to the pastor and say, "Pastor, you won't believe what we just found out." Call me paranoid, but I've learned that a little paranoia can be good for you. It can keep you from embarrassing situations.

[RLN]

Hi guardsman.

Good luck with finding the answer to this one. The result could lead to a life-time of friendship, but equally could blow up in your face (sorry to be so dramatic).

It is worth considering, first, what you are going to do with the information when you get their response. Is it just a matter of knowing whether or not you have like-minded souls in the church with you, or might you be hoping that they could become "naturist friends" that you "can get together with" ?

Am just suggesting that what you hope to get out of the situation has to be worth the risk you would be taking in broaching the subject.

NOBODY in the various churches i've belonged to knows that i am a naturist. I suspect there might be one or two couples who could possibly be nudists too, but i'm not about to ask them or even hint at it.

But if the weather's particularly warm i have been known to comment to anyone at all, "when it's this hot, the less clothes i can wear the better i like it," but to date no-one has ever come back at me with a reply

[natman55]

Perhaps you should just invite my wife over. She has the habit of blurting out at the strangest times and to just about anyone, whether we know them well or not, that we like to run around the house naked. Most of the time, this come out of the blue, with no warning or provocation.

So far we have not had a single "negative" reaction. Nor have we lost any friends over it and several have stated that they do the same. In fact, our friendships (mostly Christains) are much stronger.

I would think that it would be better if it came up as more natural flow of a conversation. However, you could always use my wife's and Nike's method and "Just Do It".

[valiant]

Just ask em what they understand by 'naturism' and what do they think about it.

[salmongetter]

My wife and I have had a similar conversation recently. We met up with a couple we have known for many years at our former church and when asked why we left we told them the truth about the link I had posted on FB and also that I told the Pastors I was a nudist, we think the wife said something like "What took you so long?" but we are not sure. We have not had contact with them since ( a couple of weeks now) in fact they switched to only cell phones and we don't have their numbers but we do know where he works, he is our dentist. So there are time when a direct approach is okay and there are times when the subtle approach is best. Of course there are times when nothing should be said.

[Trailscout]

This makes me wonder...
How many missed opportunities have there been in congregations across America?
How many people are on the threshold of naturism but need someone to guide them the last few steps?
How many naturist elbows brush ours as we gather to pray every week?
Everyone is so paralyzed with fear that they will all take this secret to their graves.

They ate and drank, and carried away silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also. Then they said to each other, "We're not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let's go at once and report this to the royal palace." II Kings 7:8-9
Even the lepers felt guilty feasting and celebrating the departure of the Assyrians while people continued to starve behind the city walls, unaware of the great feast a few feet away.

[YOMAMABINLOGGIN]

This makes me wonder...
How many missed opportunities have there been in congregations across America?
How many people are on the threshold of naturism but need someone to guide them the last few steps?
How many naturist elbows brush ours as we gather to pray every week?
Everyone is so paralyzed with fear that they will all take this secret to their graves.

HALLELLUJAH and AMEN !!!!!!!!!!!!