     The purpose of this short essay is to describe my feelings
about naturism after going to a "clothing-optional" beach for the
first time today.  Before I do that however, a little about myself
and why I decided to go.
     I am a 27 year old male, straight (as an arrow) with very
limited sexual experience (not by choice, but that's how things
have been).  Physically, I am good looking but far from someone you
would see in a Soloflex commercial.  In short, I am probably like
a lot of people "lurking" in this forum.
     I went to the beach out of curiosity.  The main impetus was
reading about naturism here on CI$.  I also felt that it would be
an excellent way of ridding myself of a slightly self-conscious
attitude about my body.  So on this perfect day (80 degrees, low
humidity) I got in the car and went.
     When I got to the beach I was surprised, although I expected
it to see such wide diversity of people on the beach.  The
majority, not by much, were male.  I surprised at the large number
of senior citizens.  Another falsehood out the window.
     After about 45 minutes I took my shorts and underwear off and
put on a pair of sweatshorts.  These came off when I went into the
water.  That was it.  The big moment.  Standing in the Atlantic
Ocean, nude for all the world to see.  And guess what?  The world
didn't care!
     Now I do not mean in a sarcastic sense.  My message is that
no one laughed, no one pointed, no one stared or made me feel self-
conscious.  The general ignorance is acceptance.
     A fear of many men is concerned with penis size.  I was too. 
Despite being straight, I did look at the other men.  You not only
see body of all shapes, colors, and sizes, but you see penises of
all sizes.   I am not ashamed to say that when flaccid, my penis
is only about two inches long and many of the men had larger
penises.  Sitting on the beach, my conclusion was quickly, "So
What!?"  I know that my penis works, that is increases to about six
inches when erect.  That is all that is necessary.  What you will
find on the beach, is that everyone feels the same way.  Nowhere
will you find a place where the general appearance of your body and
its features means less.
     Finally, the most mentioned fear- erection.  In three hours
I came close to having an erection.  Which surprised me.  I sure
that I was going to be hard from the moment I got on the beach--
clothed or not.  Of the dozens of other men on the beach, I saw
only one with an erection.  He ignored it and walked around with
it. (To be honest, he had a lot to be proud of.)
     So is naturism all its cracked up to be?
     I don't know yet.  It was nice to sit around nude and not be
self-conscious about it.  I will probably go again.  Why not?  I
do urge all those thinking about to try it.  Chances are, by
thinking about it, you're building up to what might be a
disappointment.  A nude beach is just like any other beach, except
here, a lot (not all) of the people have no bathing suit on.
     So go.  Hit the beach, or wherever else nudism is accepted,
and take off your clothes.  You probably will come away with a
totally different attitude about yourself and your body.