Monday, November 19, 2012

Maddeningly Unhelpful Monday

It's been a while since I've given y'all useless advice. I think it's time.

Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit my brother who lives just outside of San Francisco. Sunday, after church, he took us to this beautiful beach called Baker Beach that is right by the Golden Gate Bridge. The view is awesome:

Pretty, right?

Well, we decided to walk to that outcropping of rocks you see on the right side of the picture. You can climb up them and get a really great view of the bridge and the ocean. Anyway, we--me, my hubby, my brother, my 4 kids, and his one--walked along when suddenly my teenager looked to the right and said, "Um....are those naked people over there?"

"OH," my brother said. "I thought it would be too cold for the nudes today. Look at the ground, kids, look at the ground."

I, of course, started laughing. Five or six very naked old men were sunbathing by the rocks. One even decided to get up and take a stroll to the ocean in front of us. It was very eye opening. And...um....gross.

I honestly had no idea we had naked beaches in the states. I thought this was strictly a European thing. That's how it always is in the movies. Apparently I am very naive. But shouldn't there have been some sort of sign in the parking lot or something? A warning. There probably was. I don't tend to read signs. But I feel like this particular situation, calls for a very clear, very large sign that in big bold print says something along the lines of:

Nude old men alert. If you can read this, your eye sight is way too good to be walking on the far side of this beach. You will thank us later.

So, my advice to you? Read signs at a beach. Also, if you are visiting Baker Beach in San Francisco stay away from the clothing optional side. But seriously, the beach is really pretty so you have to visit the clothing mandatory side. :)

20 comments:

  1. LOL! Just when you thought it was safe to go near the water... *cues theme from Jaws*

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    1. Right?? LOL Next time I'll play that music really loud when we're walking by. Wait....there won't be a next time.

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  2. Sigh, it's just a San Francisco thing. Nudist protests are way high right now because there is a nudist movement in San Francisco. They're displaying because there's supposed to be a vote to ban it in the city tomorrow.

    No signs, just San Francisco. (thought they usually stay a little closer to Castro)

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    1. Ah, I see. That makes sense. And I'm glad there weren't signs I missed. I'll have to see what happened with the vote. :)

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  3. Oh my. I've been there, but I had no idea there was a nudist section. From what I've heard, there are some all along the coast. I hope never to stumble upon one. My eyes! My eyes! :-)

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    1. Yes, my eyes! my eyes! is right. And for having grown up in Cali, I'm surprised I've never stumbled on one before either. It was shocking.

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  4. Ha! My family stumbled upon a nude beach a few years ago in Australia (quite a shock, although apparently *everybody* knows it's a nude beach), so it's definitely not a European thing! There are probably nude beach where ever there are old men!

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    1. LOL I like your: "there are nude beaches wherever there are old men" comment. That is probably very true.

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  5. LOL I guarantee the kids will never forget *that* experience! I live in CA, and know there is a nude beach somewhere between Avila Beach and Pismo Beach (or something like that). At least that's what I've heard. No idea if there's signs there or not, and I don't intend to find out (sorry!). But there's your answer... yes, we do have them here!

    Jessica

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    1. Really? That's funny because Avila/Pismo is our favorite area. We go there a lot. I guess I'm glad we've never explored the "in between". :)

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  6. There used to be quite a bit of Naturist Sunbathing along the Lake Michigan National Lakeshore. The rationale was that there are no laws preventing nudity on National Park lands. Of course there are laws against public indecency and that kinda ended that...(there were no signs, but often there were cars in the parking lots with bumper stickers such as "Happiness is no tanlines," or "Naturists do it naked," and last but not least, "I've got the nudey blues." ;)) Also, if the naturists involved are following proper AANR (American Association for Nude Recreation) guideilines for etiquette, they should cover with a towel or blanket or something when walkers are approaching.

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    1. Ha. I did not see any bumper stickers like that. And believe me, nobody was attempting to cover themselves at all.

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    2. Well then, I think you encountered some very rudie nudies, lol. One rotten apple, I tell you... ;)

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  7. Oh man, I wish I could have heard your kids comments!

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  8. There are nude old men in San Francisco? Now, I'd say that is totally useFUL advice, or rather--a warning. Poor Kasie's kids.

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  9. I'm from San Diego and I always heard rumors of a nude beach near La Jolla but thankfully never stumbled upon it myself. Sounds like they are more common than we think... Oh, and POOR KASIE!

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  10. Thank you for the laugh that woke the family. It is early and I just finished online news where in SF nudity is now banned in public (not sure if the beach counts). The man who passed this new law is appropriately named Wiener (that was my first family-waking laugh). Then I come to your news and, well ... things got loud.

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  11. Tehehehehe! I'm really, really trying NOT to imagine ... :)

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