But how do I decide if You are a naturist, and not an exhibitionist, or voyeur? I may have lost the point of this thread but I can't see how I could help you decide if I (for example) am a naturist, exhibitionist or voyeur.

One thing that has come out of this thread is that the minute you try to label or categorise and define these terms you immediately collide with individual interpretations and sensitivities. I could ramble on for hours around this subject but I would suggest that the answer to your question lies in your own prejudices (valid or otherwise) and that you should act accordingly.

My prejudices would come into play if I was presented with evidence that someone I was choosing to be naked around was openly gaining some sexual gratification from their nudity or mine.

Thereafter, a myriad of other factors would need to be considered. Do I like their company? Do I feel at ease with them? In short, do I care? A controversial analogy, and perhaps not entirely a valid one, might be spending time in the company of gay men/women.

Some people's prejudices mean that this would be unthinkable. For me, if I enjoy the company of a gay man/men and feel at ease then it makes no difference. If those same men then harbour secret desires/fantasies about me then what do I care? I hope my attitude to the voyeur/exhibitionist leanings of others would be exactly the same.

If they derive some secret sexually-oriented pleasure from being naked or seing me naked then ... so what? If my sensibilities are encroached upon I would simply remove myself from the situation and have a clearer idea of what those sensibilities are.

Beyond that, I see little value in trying to form an opinion and pre-empt a situation that has never arisen and probably never will.

If the root of your question is to help you come to terms with contradictions in your own attitude to your nudity or the nudity of others, then I would urge you to simply not think about it too much.

A previous poster in this thread suggested that he felt that very few people fully untangle the links between nudity and sex - despite their protestations to the contrary. A few years ago I wrestled with the links between nudity and sex - or, perhaps more accurately, the labels that surround them. I quickly concluded there was little point.

Am I a naturist? Well, I much prefer not to wear clothes when comfort and temperature make them a nuisance.

Am I an exhibitionist? Yes - I like to demonstrate that I have no hang-ups about being seen naked, it makes me feel more honest.

Am I a voyeur? Perhaps - I do find the variety in the naked form fascinating, this is probably largely due to the fact that being surrounded by nudity is not the norm.

But in neither of the last two scenarios do I ever gain any sexual gratification, secret or otherwise. I also try to temper my "honesty" and "fascination" according to my perception of the sensibilities of others. It's also worth noting that the "fascination" is soon sated when one is surrounded by nudity for long periods of time. e.g. two weeks at a naturist resort.

Which bears out the "not the norm" logic. So you decide. Am I a naturist, an exhibitionist or voyeur? Would you feel comfortable being naked on a beach, or anywhere else, with me (and my partner - picking up on the "we" part of your question)?

More to the point, would I feel comfortable being naked with you and yours?