Why I Stopped Going to the Nude Beach
Sauvie’s Island was my place to swim and then I took off my rose-colored sunnies.
Kelli and I used to go to Sauvie’s Island in the summer and swim mostly naked.
We wore bikini bottoms. Or blue-jean cut offs. We were in our early 20s, and loved lying in the sun. A lot of like-minded people lay around nearby, and no one was rude.
If people stared, I never noticed.
Then a few incidents turned me off my topless swimming experience.
One day Kelli and I were out in the water, swimming around and hanging on to a floatation device for Kelli. I was a good swimmer, Kelli not at all.
One time we were white-water rafting and I persuaded her to swim down the ‘Elevator,’ rapids on the Deschutes river with ten waves in high ups and downs.
For a decent swimmer, it’s a lot of fun if you can time your breaths right.
Kelli couldn’t swim, but I thought she’d do okay in her lifevest. I was wrong. She looked like she was drowning, and I saw my life and happiness being swept down the river.
At the time, we were inseparable. I was not as thoughtful back then as I should have been, but I knew my joy. I couldn’t imagine losing her.
