Oakwood Club, just like every other reputable nudist/naturist club, emphasizes anonymity.  Simply speaking, you go by your first name and, if necessary, last initial.  

But why?

There are several longstanding reasons.  These can include people knowing they have either immediate or extended family members who don’t understand healthy nudity in a non-sexual setting.  Or they may work in a field that frowns on people seeing other people in a state of undress.  Some years back my spouse and I visited Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs (gone, but not forgotten).  While there we chatted with a couple, one of them was a teacher.  She made it clear she had to be extra careful to ensure her identity was kept secret and even when leaving TCI for a trip into town, was very circumspect around obscuring her face (such as with a hat and/or sunglasses).  She told us that should she be “outed” about going to such a place, she would immediately lose her job.  

While that is an extreme example, together with other lesser-intense reasons, there actually is another factor about people being anonymous if they choose.  

Nothing connected to shame.  No, this is a healthy and beneficial reason.  

When one comes to a place such as Oakwood, you get that sense you can really leave it all behind.  You go through the gates of the club or resort and immediately have that sense of leaving your everyday life behind.  You don’t have to be identified by the several hats you wear.  These can be connected to your profession, how you are viewed in your home community, who your children are, which civic organizations you are active in, volunteer work, where you worship, and the persona you present to the world via social media.  

Nope, you can just be yourself.  And when you leave all of those other things at the gate you can be more relaxed than you might imagine.  No one “wants a piece of you.”  No one will be bothering or hounding you for this or that just because you work at (insert whatever name here) or belong to (insert whatever other name here).  

For those of you reading this blog and wondering if trying social nudism in a safe environment is for you, we hope this short piece will help you decide to “take the plunge!”