To re-energize a stripped-down lifestyle, nudist organizations are shifting their focus from the elderly to a more, ahem, attractive demographic. But do naked communities appeal to a post-boomer generation?
If you think that nudist resorts are for people your grandparents’ age (but not your grandparents specifically — oh no, erase those images right now!), you’re right. Retirees are the primary participants in these bare-backed communities, and that’s causing quite a problem.
You see, nudists and naturists are a dying breed — literally. Memberships are on the decline because those who live this naked lifestyle are growing older. So in order to prevent the rapid deterioration of a whole sect of humans — nudists, if you will — organizations across the country are rallying to recruit a new generation of younger, more taut nudes.
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“The whole lifestyle will just disappear unless we attract a younger crowd,” Nicky Hoffman, head of the Naturist Society, recently told the Wall Street Journal. “The problem is, most of these resorts aren’t geared to young people. They’ve become like retirement homes; they’ve sort of calcified.”‘
With statements like that, we can see why young, vibrant Americans aren’t clamoring to join ranks and take their clothes off. Nonetheless, that hasn’t stopped the these types of organizations from hosting youngin’-specific events such as reverse-strip-poker nights, naked 5K races and musical festivals such as Nudepalooza and Nudestock.
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But despite these highly original names, attendance for the events have been low so far. It seems like young adults who are looking to expose themselves like to do so publicly — or at least in public nudist spots like Hippie Hollow in Austin, Baker Beach in San Francisco or Haulover Beach in Miami — rather than gather together as one big, happy, nude fest. So maybe there is hope for a new generation, one bare step at a time. (via Wall Street Journal)
