Friday, September 7, 2012

No Shirts? Egad!

Now that we are out of Canada and I am no longer converting liters to gallons, Canadian dollars to US dollars , kilometers to miles, or gasp! Kilos of cheese to what-the heck? I have time to reflect on Karen's latest email.
No pool shoes after the pool is resurfaced but for now,
 Ok, if you MUST!

No shirts in the pool.
Hmmmm.....
Let's reflect.

When family and friends come to visit in the chilly winter
they may remark,
 "This is a nudist park but you are all clothed."

We usually reply,
"We are nudists, not stupid."

We dress for the weather.
When it's cold we cover up.
When it's burning, summer-time-in-the-sun hot
 we (sometimes) cover up. 
Hey, we live in SOUTH TEXAS.
How many of you have had a skin cancer scare?
Me.
Three times.
I have worn a sun protection shirt in the pool for water volleyball for 10 years.
My dermatologist is pleased.

Many of us wear covering on chest, shoulders, heads when exposed for the many hours long fun-in-the-sun games.

Now on the one hand I understand why a lot of parks require the no-clothes policy.  Many are located near big cities and want to discourage gawkers.

On the other hand, we aren't.

On the one hand I can appreciate Karen making rules for the betterment of our park.
It has become GORGEOUS! under her management.

On the other hand I do resent being told that if I want to play volleyball I can't wear a sun shirt.
But I have a choice...
play for a short time sans shirt...
play only at night...
or stop playing.
It's not as if there aren't tons of other activities.

Sooo....
what are your thoughts?
Leave a comment.
See at the bottom where it says comment?
 Click on it. 
 Say something.
You can remain anonymous if you like.
Be heard!!!!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ever since my first day at Sandpipers, I wore a Belly Tshirt to play water volleyball. I had more than a scare about skin cancer and it was my way to protect my shoulders, upper back and chest against the sun when I was playing. I feel that some protecting clothes should be tolerated in the pool for those who require it to play. It could be taken off when not playing in the sun or when in a shaded area. But again, if it becomes a rule, rules must be obeyed.Amen.

Terry 502 said...

I agree with all your comments. The sun is very hot for the lst couple of weeks for us northerners that love to grin and bare it but like you comment there is choices. My choice would be in the pool playing water volleyball as much as I can as I love it as most of you know. I only wear a cut off shirt to cover my shoulders a couple of days from the sudden sun exposure. Limiting my choice to an hour of water play the first couple weeks makes my smile go sad. There is not alot of members wearing cloths in the pool but some do need the coverage for a little bit. Guess I'll be playing a bit for the lst week or so and pouting while in the shade or just sucking it up and cheering on those that have tough tanned skin already......see u soon

Catherine said...

I appreciate the opportunity to comment. I love our park and the beautiful improvements, the owners have instituted! I also have to wear a sun protective shirt to prevent skin damage and skin cancer, especially on my arms. I have worn 50+ sunscreen and a
hats for 30 years since my bout with facial skin cancer. My dermatologist would prefer I stay completely out of the sun but that is pretty difficult anywhere. I do stay in the shade whenever I can and have been known to use one of my wonderful umbrellas/bumbershoots.
I too really love watervolley ball, the exercise, friends and the fellowship our bodies and souls need/derive from this activity. Yes, with the ban on sun protective shirts I too have choices

1. to play at night
2. to give up a heart healthly sport, never play watervolley ball again
3. to play a short while, without the forbidden sun protective shirt
4. there must be more options...

I too am saddend that this "rule" is now in place! Yes, I do resent the rule since it seems pretty mindless. I do have difficulty understanding the purpose since people are around the park, at parties, breakfasts, lunches, dinners, fun directed activities, meetings, olympics, and the pool area, in all sorts of dress or undress. I wonder what other parks rules are concerning this issue of protective sunshirts? I don't suppose it would be too difficult to do a reserch study but on the other hand that sounds like way too much work...playing watervolley ball at night sounds more reasonable.


Anonymous said...

Will other people be allowed to use the pool? Not everyone plays volleyball, yet volleyball players seem to dominate the pool. Don't forget you need to share.

SueP said...

Some other nudist parks I've been to also ban wearing any type of clothing around or in the pool. But I've also noticed that their volleyball pools (when they have one) have some type of awning or roof over it. Wouldn't THAT be a blessing!?

That being said, I agree we all have a choice. Limiting one's time in the sun or playing at night seem the best options so far. But what about tournaments?

Anonymous said...

I have a solution!! While trying to play volleyball on a hot sunnyday. I will play using only my right hand like some of our best players do. In my left hand I will hold an umbrella over my head-It will never touch the precious water!!

Donna L said...

On Sandpipersresort.com, Karen states 'Our "rules" are pretty much the same as any other resort. In other words, use common sense. '

In looking at a couple of resorts, to see what their rules are, here's a sampling:

"Deer park is a nudist facility and nudity is to be practiced. Clothing may be worn for common sense reasons, such as medical/health reasons or in the trails end restaurant."

"Whispering Pines Nudist Resort states 'The pool area is NUDE ONLY. Common sense always prevails in certain situations, such as covering one’s self to prevent sun burn.'"

So where is the 'common sense' that Karen talks about in the park rules? These rules apply to all of us at the park, whether or not you're a noodler, swimmer, or VB player. Health reasons to cover up should be allowed. And what about those people with thinning hair, will they be allowed to wear hats to prevent sunburn. Taking a soap shower before entering the pool will remove all sunscreens that may have been applied and expose us to sunburn and potentially skin cancer or other complications.

Linda said...

The 1st thing I thought about when reading Karen's notes was - "wow what about those who have already endured skin cancers?!" Plus the reasoning of being a nudist/not clothing optional resort seemed a bit foolish to me. We wear different "types" of clothing to many functions at SP. If the reasoning was something like: " the chemicals from articles of clothing mess up the pool's balance - blah-blah-blah would have sounded more reasonable, in my opinion. Sorry - I just don't agree with this one. And I love Sandpipers, and all the wonderful improvements, but it's our body, it should be our choice. (sounds like a bumper sticker, don't you think? I edited this a couple times, debating whether to sign it - oh well,

Irwin said...

I personally do not agree with the rule, people with sensitive skin need to wear protection,I think that balancing the chemicals should not be a problem as it is done in textile pools. But if this is ANOTHER rule it should be followed.