Happened on one of the "recommended" articles on the browser this morning.

https://getpocket.com/explore/item/why-we-need-to-bring-back-the-art-of-communal-bathing

I've been noticing and thinking about how prudish we have become in the locker-room over the decades since my middle school/high school/college years. Then, we all undressed together at our lockers, walked to the shower (which might or might not be close) carrying our towels and thinking nothing of the fact that we weren't wearing a stitch. The showers came out of the wall of a big room with whoever was there on full display. I did this for years and never thought twice about it (after the first week or so when I was in 7th grade and starting out in football). For a short while, doing this routine was very intimidating as I felt as small as a fly next to the 12th grade football players. Got lucky, My locker was next to one of the starting linemen. He made feel welcome from the go.

Riding Cycle Oregon and other events in recent years I have used the facilities of a number of colleges and high schools. Big changes! In many, it is easy to never seen between clothed in cycling gear and ready to leave in street clothes. I can imagine there are kids who grow up never seeing their cohorts naked. This may evolve to a world where they never see a naked person at all outside the sex industry and the medical field. Weird!

I spend the vast majority of my public life clothed and most of it at home likewise, but that once a year crazy bike ride where thousands of up show up, stuff our clothed in bags and go ride feels like the healthiest thing I do. Skinny dipping is right up there (as long as proper respect is given to poison ivy/oak).

Ben