Author's Note: This is a rewrite of a previous story. The events are real, based on my own exhibitionist experiences...
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What is an exhibitionist?
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary defines an exhibitionist as: "one who engages in or is addicted to exhibitionism..."
Addicted?
Can people actually be addicted to exposing themselves?
In order to answer that, I think we need to look to Merriam-Webster's definition of exhibitionism itself: "A disorder characterized by a compulsion to exhibit the genitals in public."
To put it together from the definition, it would be logical to conclude that an exhibitionist is someone who has a disorder, compulsion, or is addicted to showing their genitals in public.
As a recovering exhibitionist I can say with complete authority that there is much more to it than Webster's clinical characterization.
I have yet to experience anything this universe offers more exhilarating than walking around completely, totally, barefoot, butt naked in broad daylight—the more public the place, the better.
Unfortunately, the authorities don't agree with me on this point. In 2002 I was arrested walking naked through a college parking lot. Now branded for life, this single incident ended a naked in public career that spanned over 15 years.
I can no longer get a decent job or even live in an apartment complex requiring a background check.
I never claimed to be a particularly intelligent exhibitionist.
Since I can no longer practice my "addiction," I've decided to share my tales with those less fortunate.
Surely, there must be thousands who fantasize about stepping out of the doorway in the nude to retrieve the morning paper, but who for their own reasons, have never dared it.
What follows are some examples of the types of experiences I've had and I hope that you will consider these humble offerings as insight into the breathless world of the exhibitionist. And though I am now bound to convention and can no longer venture "outside," perhaps dear reader, you can.
As an exhibitionist I had rules: never under any circumstances would I intentionally show myself to anyone under the age of eighteen, never force myself on anyone who was unwilling to look, and never attempt any form of physical contact with anyone, unless they initiated it.
Assaulting people wasn't my thing. Under these circumstances, I actually got one or two positive reactions to my nudity.
One Colorado summer for example, I was walking along a secluded path by a river, dressed in shorts and shoes.
It was very hot that day and as always on hot days, I felt that inescapable compulsion to strip off and go naked.
Quickly stepping out of my shorts, I tossed them in the bushes and marked the spot for later retrieval.
Since there was nobody in sight I figured I wouldn't have any trouble. Now totally nude, save for my shoes, I continued along savoring the sun on my naked body.
While the public nudity itself offered a small sexual thrill, it didn't mean that I needed to blatantly jack off in someone's face—at least not yet.
I'd gone maybe a football field walking behind the high hedges to my left, when I decided to turn back, not wanting to push it.
I could hear the traffic on the other side of the bushes and if I kept on, I'd be soon be exposed to it. As I turned around to head back to the place where my shorts were hidden, my heart stopped in chest.
There were two young women on bicycles approaching me from the opposite direction.
They were between my shorts and me and I was trapped, naked, with nothing to cover myself with. All I could do was continue on and act like nothing was out of place.
My heart pounded as my mind raced through the possible scenarios and explanations. I hoped that maybe they would just pass me by, but that didn't happen.
Stopping about 10 feet from me, the girl closest gawked, open-mouthed and demanded to know what I was doing. The girl behind her remained silent and wide-eyed.
Now, through my experiences, I have discovered that it's difficult to lie to someone when you're naked. I don't know if this is a universal truth or not, but it's true for me.
Attempting to explain my situation, I told them that I was a nudist, (true) and loved experiencing the freedom of being naked outdoors, also true.