Yes, I could have hidden my nudist lifestyle from my parents, but I didn't want to hide it. Becoming a nudist had a profound and life changing effect on me. I couldn't keep it a secret. It became a huge part of my life every weekend, and a big part of my conversations. Out of respect for my mother (who kept telling me I would go to hell), I did not tell our relatives. I wanted to though. My dad would get a big smile on his face when we talked about my nudist club. I know he would have gone in a second, but my mom was against it. He was dying to tell our relatives. He would blurt out at family functions: "Look Linda has an all over tan". Some of our relatives are orthodox, and maybe for that reason, they did not catch on. If they did, they didn't say anything.

I was raised by a Jewish  mother who constantly told me as I was growing up to "cover up". I have a funny little toe, and I wasn't allowed to go barefoot or wear sandles as I was growing up. It embarrassed her, but it didn't embarrass me. I felt quite insecure about my body and up until my mid twenties, I wouldn't wear a bathing suit.