The following is an excerpt from a novel I have nearly finished. The novel is a post-catastrophe storya solar storm has pushed mankind back about 150 years after taking out most things electrical and with the associated upheaval of civilization. It has very little to do with nudism, but it is an example of my advocating for nudism in my writing (see my post below with the title Advocating for Nudism). There are a couple of other places where I do this in this approximately 650-page story. See what you think.

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True to his word, they trotted the horses much of the way up the valley. The only unpleasant thing was the heat of the noon sun. She was hot and sweaty; sure it was a pleasant change from the winter she was still trying to shake from her bones, but still, the suns heat was uncomfortable. Her light jacket came off, and she laid it across the saddle. But she wanted to shed her warm shirt and maybe try some shorts. Somehow, being adapted to the cold of winter made what was probably only 60 or 70 degrees feel like an oven. She did not want to complain, however, nor did she want to slow them down, so she was just hot, and thinking about splashing on some cool river water.

Wolf did not allow her to go to the river after they selected a campsite in the meadow amongst some widely spaced, sentinel pine and spruce trees. Instead, he had them unload the pack horses and get the basics of camp set up. She excused herself to go pee but used the break to do a little exploring. There were a few tight clumps of large trees nearby, which almost seemed like something out of a fantasy story. One clump had a single opening that allowed easy access into the center of the group, which contained an area the size of a small room. She wanted to camp there, but Wolf said the nights were still cold, and he would rather be in a place where the sun would hit them early in the morning. She could not argue with that logic but still thought the clump could be a magical shelter.

He enlisted her help setting up their tent, a roomy four-person dome. Next came their kitchen and tending to the horses. When they were situated, Toni said, Okay, am I done being a trailhand?

Yep, were done and can kick back.

Im hot, sweaty, and dusty. Im going to the river, stripping down and splashing some of the grime off.

The river is running hard and cold; there is a smaller creek just a short walk up the valley. It wont be any warmer, but you are more likely to find a spot you can get wet without being washed away. If I remember right, we follow the meadows edge away from the river. The creek runs just inside the forest. In the summer, its not much of a stream, but this time of year, I bet the flow is perfect for a dip.

If its cool, wet, and clean, itll be perfectIm game.

All right. Wolf took off his boots and began to remove his shirt, eliciting an interested look from Toni.

And your plan is? she asked.

Youre not planning to cool off in the water with your clothes on, are you? He was pulling off his pants.

Well, no, butI was going to take them off by the creek.

Youre welcome to do that, but its hot, and I think its easier and more fun to shed them here, he said, as he pulled his socks and underwear off, and the sun feels good. So, why not? I just assume be rid of these sweaty and dusty duds sooner than later.

Toni eyed him approvingly, Hmm, maybe.

Eek, gad woman. My being naked doesnt embarrass you at all, does it.

Heck no. In the Navy, some of the guys would try to embarrass me by walking around nude in front of me. I could have gotten them in trouble, but the far better tactic was to ignore them and act like it was nothing unusual. Occasionally, I would make a comment that would embarrass them. Plus, remember what I do. Ive seen it all in clinic.

Well, okay then, so are you going to join me?

How far of a walk is it?

A quarter mile, maybe a bit more.

I guess this was your plan all along: get me naked in the wilderness and take advantage of me.

Why not? Do you object?

Yeah, okay, why not, she said, unbuttoning her shirt. Ive been wanting out of these warm, sweaty things for a while now, and who will see us? I mean, as Border Patrol, you pretty much know when people are leaving the settlement and where they are going. Besides, being seen naked hasnt bothered me for quite a while now.

And who would care? Certainly, not Rex. Your friend Branwen told me something that made real sense. She said that in this new world, we can make our own rules about such things. And if we arent hurting anyone, we should do what makes us happy because life tends to be too short these days to be bound by old prejudices and conceptions of whats acceptable. That isnt exactly how she said it, but its close. Just because people were hung up on nudity before, why should we be hung up on it now? I mean, we are now closer to nature by necessity, so why not be more organic? Do you think native Americans had those hang-ups before they were infected by Christian missionaries and settlers?

She stood topless, looking around, hands hesitating at her pants.

Problem? he asked.

Youre preaching to the choir; you really are. I think my hesitation is that I feel like we are really in the fucking middle of nowhere wilderness. Thats a good thing, but I already feel vulnerable, which is weird. I mean, I did a fair amount of backpacking and camping before the Storm. Now its different. We used to dominate; people were everywhere, and you couldnt hardly get away from them. Now were visitors again. Maybe not even visitors, but intruders. Wandering around naked in this wilderness would just make me feel even more defenselessI guess.

You think a bear, wolf, or moose care if you don't have clothes on? If anything, they might see a naked you as less of a threat and just ignore you. The only critters I worry about with this much skin exposed are the skeeters. Fortunately, its still too cold at night for them, but in another week or two, we couldnt do this.

Youre right, of course.

And were not visitors. Were just another part of natureanother animal that lives in this placeespecially if we are naked. Branwen would tell you that the cloth we drape over our skin inhibits us from being one with nature. It doesnt protect us from anything other than bugs and the cold. Neither of which are much of an issue right now.

And the sun, she added.

True, he conceded.

But you're right, and Branwen would be right if she were here. I look forward to talking with her again; she seems to be a sage woman who was even able to influence you, she said, slipping off her pants. At first, the stuff she preaches seems odd, but theres wisdom in it.

Agreed, but as much as we might like her, we must be careful around her. She is a skilled manipulator. Nonetheless, Ive been thinking about the seeds she planted. If we are living by new rules, I think our rules should let us live with nature this time around and not make dominating and shaping the natural world a priority. And people should live honestly together and not hide behind superficial things.

You mean like clothes. We should all go around naked? she questioned.

That could be an example. Clothes have their purposes, but perhaps we should be comfortable as a society without them. Its just healthier, and a symptom of openness and honesty.

Ill have to think about that. I enjoy being naked but have never thought about the greater social implications. I have a hard time imagining people walking around Glen Eden nude. Ive been to clothing-optional beaches and been around a lot of naked peoplebut still, I dont see it in Glen Eden. Then again, it is Glen... Eden.

Yeah, I agree, its hard to imagine. It would take some serious getting used to. Perhaps our little society isnt ready for that; however, I think thats how they live at the hot springs settlement.

Toni pulled off her underwear, and the two of them faced each other naked in the meadow. With this man, who was well aware of what she had been through, she was not self-conscious about the still maturating large and painful scar on her thigh. She broke the spell when she said, Im going to wear my running shoes.

Yeah, me too, he agreed. It was a long winter, and my feet have probably softened up. And we should throw the rest of our clothes in the tent. It wouldnt do to have a marmot run off with them.

That wouldnt happen. It could make an interesting few days if they were our only clothes, but youre teasing me.

I have seen them try to steal boots and jackets. Once, we had to recover a Carhart jacket from a marmot hole. It had all the buttons chewed off. It had belonged to a guest of my bosss. That man wanted to kill the poor animal.

Okay I guess this means we will get to do that naked run in the woods you promised me. Ive been getting in shape; you better watch out.

You remember that?

How could I forget a proposition like that, she said, tying her running shoes.

Youre on. We can run the length of Diamond Park and back tomorrow morning. Right now, lets find you a stream so you can dainty up.

You bringing a gun?

You want me to?

Yes, at least a handgun.

As much as I think we are safe here: okay. Lets also take a washcloth, soap, and a towel; we might as well do this right.

She came close to him and said, And what are we going to do when were naked and all clean, putting her hand on the back of his neck, pulling him to her, and kissing him with deliberate passion.

Were not going to get clean if you keep that up, he whispered, feeling the beginning of arousal down below.

Lets do it.

You mean youre ready?

I meant lets go to the creek, but yeah. This is the time and place, but lets freshen up.

They walked the quarter mile to the small creek running just inside the dense treesan uncommon, normal-looking forestand found a bathtub-sized hole in the small stream. During the walk, she hardly thought about being naked. The hole was a spot that they could get in and quickly submerge themselves, soap up, and repeat. The water was frigid, nearly stopping her heart when she got up the nerve to submerge herself, producing goose bumps galore upon her exit, and doing it twice to soap up and rinse was all she could bear.

Warming while lying naked on a flat boulder in the afternoon sun and cloudless azure sky, she felt incredibly refreshed and re-energized, almost enough to do it all over again. Her mind, however, was wandering elsewhere; her unabashed nakedness in the wilderness was so sensual, and Wolf was there naked with her in all his manliness. She was about to explode in erotic desire. It had to be the day. There was no holding back now. One diverting thought came to her: was this why society was against nudity? Because everyone would be running around screwing. Noshe felt the way she did now because of who she was with, not just because she was naked; well, it was because she was naked with the man she was in love with. And honestly, it was time after three-plus years of absolute chastity at the hands of her former captors and because of the long recovery from her injury.

He broke the spell when he said, I brought along a bottle of ten-year-old SPF 30 sunscreen. I hate to gunk myself up, but getting sunburned could wreck our trip.

I feel so fresh, but youre right. Oh, and Wolf, you are right about being naked. Im very comfortable with it now, and if feels right. I dont know how to explain it better, but I do feel more at one with this placeless apart from nature. I dont know why anyone would want to wear clothes in a place like this.

Bugs, sun, cold, you remember those little issues? he asked.

Yeah, right. I guess we better enjoy today, then. You better rub some of that sunscreen on my back.

Once the sunscreen was applied, they walked to the camp and grabbed a blanket. In the middle of a meadow of emerging wildflowers under the bright afternoon sun, with birds singing in the trees, they laid out a blanket. She anticipated starting with a deep kiss and dropped down to the blanket, but he made a terribly practical suggestion, You know, perhaps we should move into the shade; even with the sunscreen, we might get baked.

Lets stay put. Its been a long winter, and I like the idea of getting hot and sweaty in the sun. Plus, if we apply an extra layer of sunscreen to each other, that could be a fun way to start this little outing.

She never imagined that applying sunscreen could be so sensual. The white lotion went on slowly. No spot was left uncovered. Once that was done, they paused. She thought it was like they were unsure what to do. However, once he kissed her, their bottled-up desire took over. She forgot about the few annoying flies and that their passion played out in an open meadow, in the wilderness.

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