Sunlit stories

In 2017, after navigating the cultural complexities of the Middle East, Ethan and Lila returned to India, settling in a small, airy home on the edge of the Andaman Sea near Puducherry. Nestled where coconut palms met dense forest cover, their single-story bungalow with a wraparound veranda overlooked a quiet stretch of beach. The move, prompted by Ethan’s new role consulting on coastal conservation, was a homecoming to India’s familiar warmth. For two years, they rebuilt their naturist lifestyle, deepened their love, and forged a community rooted in respect, friendship, and shared vulnerability. With seven-year-old Maya growing curious and spirited, their journey in Puducherry became a chapter of reconnection and resilience. A New Haven by the Sea The bungalow, painted white with blue shutters, was a sanctuary. Its backyard, screened by bamboo and wild hibiscus, opened to a private path leading to a secluded cove. Here, Ethan and Lila resumed their morning ritual: shedding clothes at d...

In the summer of 2016, while living in Dubai, Ethan and Lila, craving a break from the Middle East’s constraints, embarked on a 21-day European vacation with six-year-old Maya. The centerpiece was a week-long naturist cruise in the Mediterranean, bookended by three days in Athens, three in Rome, and a seven-day tour of Northern Italy. The trip was a vibrant plunge into Europe’s open-minded naturist culture, filled with sunlit freedom, cultural immersion, and joyful challenges. Athens: A Warm-Up in History and Heat (3 Days) Landing in Athens in late June, Ethan and Lila settled into a quiet guesthouse near Plaka, its rooftop offering views of the Acropolis. They spent their days exploring history—wandering the Parthenon’s ancient stones and the bustling Monastiraki market. Maya, wide-eyed, clutched a tiny notebook, sketching columns and stray cats. Naturism was limited here, but they found a naturist-friendly beach, Limanakia, a rocky cove south of Athens. Early mornings, they’d drive o...

  In 2013, Ethan and Lila left Goa’s sunlit shores for Kerala, where Ethan’s new role as an environmental consultant awaited. Their bungalow in Thiruvananthapuram, nestled amid banana groves, became their new home. With toddler Maya in tow, they sought to weave naturism into their lives despite Kerala’s conservative leanings. The beaches here, like Kovalam, were busier, less secluded than Querim. They found a private cove near Varkala, reachable only by a winding cliff path. Early mornings, they’d slip away, shedding clothes to swim in the warm Arabian Sea. The freedom felt familiar, but the cultural backdrop was stricter. Locals occasionally stared, and once, a fisherman gestured disapproval. Ethan and Lila learned to time their visits carefully, respecting the community’s norms while cherishing their quiet rebellion. Their naturist gatherings shifted indoors, confined to their courtyard, now screened by bamboo and hibiscus. They hosted small, discreet events, inviting a few like-...

 In the golden years between 2007 and 2013, Ethan and Lila, now settled in Goa, wove naturism into the fabric of their lives, finding joy in the sun-soaked beaches and their growing community. Their home near Arambol became a haven for non-sexual naturism, where they embraced body acceptance and harmony with nature, sharing this freedom through quiet beach days and vibrant gatherings.   Their favorite spot was a secluded stretch of beach near Querim, fringed by coconut palms and kissed by the Arabian Sea. Early mornings were their ritual. Before the tourists arrived, Ethan and Lila would slip out of their beachside cottage, shedding clothes as they reached the shore. The sand was cool underfoot, the dawn air crisp. They’d walk hand in hand, feeling the first rays of sunlight warm their skin, the waves lapping gently. For Ethan, these moments echoed the liberation he’d first felt in Rajasthan, now unburdened by judgment. Lila, who’d grown to love naturism, found the beach a san...

Back in 1995, Ethan was a skinny 20-year-old living in a quiet, conservative town in the Midwest. It was the kind of place where everyone knew your name—and your business. Life there followed a strict rhythm: church on Sundays, pressed shirts, and little room for anything outside the norm. But behind closed doors, Ethan was discovering something deeply personal. He started spending time naked—not to rebel, but because it made him feel free. It began with sleeping without clothes, then lounging around his apartment. The feeling was liberating. Without fabric, he felt more connected to himself, more at ease. Later, he learned there was a name for it: naturism. It wasn’t about sex or shock—it was about being comfortable in your own skin. Trying to take that feeling outdoors didn’t go well. One day, he wandered into a quiet patch of woods behind his apartment, hoping for solitude. But someone saw him, and by nightfall, the town was buzzing with gossip. His landlord gave him a warning, and ...