There is a story my mother likes to tell, loudly and in mixed company, about my "birthday suit." It involves my three-year-old self wearing nothing but a collapsible red hat taking a slow lap around the table during a dinner party and yelling "ta-da!" She swears no one made a sound - that they were too blown away by my performance, and I have thought of repeating it just to spite her.

Then there are the stories I tell. Like the time my college girlfriends and I donned wool hats, running shoes and shaving cream and went caroling outside the houses of invite-only, sorority Christmas parties. Or the years I lead freshman orientation trips that always ended with a naked pier dive into the Puget Sound (complete with naked lifeguards and a round of It's a Small World courtesy of the male counselors). And then there was my most recent birthday, when I decided it was worth $50 to wear nothing but a fishing vest into the glacier-fed waters of Lake McDonald in front of two Slovakian bus-boys, three American waitresses and a line-cook named Dave who lives in a tent and gives the finger to organized society.

Surprisingly enough, I am neither a nudist nor an exhibitionist, and I have as many body acceptance issues as the next person. I do not make a habit of baring it all for fun or profit, but there have been times when being naked has generated both. I say this because I think a lot of people have similar stories, and the commonality demonstrates a deeper human truth.

We all come into the world naked, most of us shed our clothing at least a couple times a week to shower, and some of us have had a bit of a laugh as a result of watching or participating in naked mischief. Nudity is a lifestyle, an industry, an art form, an aspect of intimacy, an inescapable human condition and a comic device that American audiences seem never to tire of. You have to admit, every time Mike Myers drops his towel in So, I Married an Ax Murderer, you laugh.

"I'm naked, aren't I," he says, and we all nod, wincing at the thought of such awkwardness.

Why is nudity awkward? The answer is obvious on several levels, but the word itself varies by definition and degree. It is inextricably linked to sex and morality, and general standards tend to dictate appropriate behavior. Based on this socio-cultural construct, we are conditioned to see and process a certain way, but individuality persists. Some people think knee-length skirts are racy. Others think anything with straps is conservative. Some find Bougereau's nudes breathtaking, and others blush. Some people find the sight of a person wearing nothing but tube socks funny, some do not. The point is, naked is a word with many meanings, contexts and manifestations, and though the world has come far in the ways of sexuality and censorship, nudity is still an issue.

It is also a way of life for people like Boise Barebackers, John and Pam. Having thought nude recreation was about as easy to find in Idaho as a sense of irony, I was shocked when I stumbled across the Barebacker's website. Here were color photographs of naked people painting landscapes, barbecuing steaks, and lounging in hot tubs, and all in close proximity to a town where the exotic dancers have to wear pasties on their nipples (cause real nipples would be too exciting). I wrote a quick, inquiring e-mail and got a response from the group's "membership committee," or the husband and wife team of John and Pam.

A bit hesitant at first, they agreed to meet with me for an informal interview. They suggested pizza, darts and a dip in the hot tub, asking whether I wanted to meet in a group and whether "informal" meant naked. I wish I'd had the guts to say yes, but I told them I would probably be more comfortable having pockets in which to keep my pens (read Naked by David Sedaris). Sensing my anxiety, they invited me to bring a friend, and with a little finesse and the promise of Guido's, fellow Boise Weekly employee, Amy Herzfeld, was on board.

On our way to the Barebacker's abode, Herzfeld and I still were not sure how our hosts would be "dressed," and with only a pizza between us and destiny, we rang the bell. Destiny was wearing sweats, a hat and a thick mustache. He was John, and his wife, Pam, sauntered out of the bedroom wearing stretch pants and a loose, V-neck sweater. They were both very friendly, and after introductions and a lame story about getting lost (which was true), they lead us downstairs.

Let me just say that these people know how to live. The basement had a wet bar at one end, a huge fireplace at the other and a pool table, dartboard and couch in between. A placard that read "No Swimming suits After Dark" hung on the wall, and I laughed as we sat down to dinner.

It was all business at first. We talked a lot about the legal aspects of nudism, and John and Pam assured me that the Barebackers are a non-profit organization affiliated with AANR (the American Association for Nude Recreation) that is registered with Boise County and in full observance of indecency laws.

"We have 130 acres of private property that are fenced and screened as per law," John said. "We don't run around exposing ourselves and we aren't about making anyone uncomfortable. We're a family organization that caters to people who enjoy the freedom of nude recreation - if you're not into it, we respect that," he said.

Founded in 1981, the club now has around 90 members and a private campground called Bare Mountain Hideaway. Amenities include a children's playground, 38 RV and tent sites, a heated clubhouse, jacuzzi, pool, volleyball court, horseshoe pit, picnic area and miles of hiking trails. During the winter, members meet in their homes for potlucks, parties and casual get-togethers, all au natural. The average member age is 42, and most are white and blue collar professionals who live and work among non-nudists, or "textiles."

"Our group has medical professionals, lawyers, pilots, law-enforcement officials and even ministers," John said, "God doesn't care how we're dressed, and nothing inappropriate goes on."

"We're not some wild mountain orgy cult," added Pam. "We're normal people who enjoy the outdoors and socializing without the constraints and connotations of clothing." She and John met at Bare Mountain and were married almost 6 years ago in an all-naked ceremony. There were 75 naked guests, a naked minister and a naked reception. "It was really cheap - ”just a veil, a cowboy hat and some cake," laughed John.

When asked about the appeal of frequent, unabashed nudity, both Pam and John emphasized lack of pretension and a connection with nature and self that "most will never feel."

"People tend to put on airs when they put on clothing, and all of that falls away," said John.

"There's something about being in nature without clothes that puts you in touch with something deep and instinctual," said Pam, "but it isn't easy at first." She talked about her preliminary inhibitions and how club members tried to make her feel comfortable. "I finally got up the nerve to sunbathe, and then someone asked me to help weed the volleyball court," Pam laughed. "They wanted to see if I would participate, and I decided to go for it." She is now an enthusiastic nudist and insists she has never felt ogled or oppressed by her fellow Barebackers. "Everyone's body is very real. We may be naked, but we're still careful of personal feelings and boundaries," she said.

John echoed her statement, saying: "I keep waiting for the Swedish bikini team to show up, but for the most part, our bodies are as normal as we are." He added that even if they did drop by, Swedish bikini babes would be treated the same as anyone else. "The point is to let go of appearances and really be yourself," he said.

We never did play darts or pool, and the cover stayed on the hot tub, but John and Pam were as open as their lifestyle. They are nice people with normal jobs and friends outside the fold, though John said perpetual nudity could be fun given the right physical and social climate.

"It would be nice to pick up the paper or run to the store without having to worry about clothes, but that's not possible here," he said.

Naked grocery shopping in Boise is not possible for several reasons. For one, your neighborhood store is probably full of people who wouldn't be able to help staring/laughing and/or calling the police upon seeing you. It is human nature. People fear what they don't understand, and naked shopping doesn't occur to everyone. Even if it did, it is one of those things you think about in the waiting room of a dentist's office and don't seriously consider unless you've had too much sugar and not enough sleep.

Then there's Boise's Nudity Ordinance, now amended and in full swing, which prohibits public exposure in specific language. "Nudity" is defined as uncovered male or female genitalia, buttocks, the nipples of female breasts or any device that gives the realistic appearance of anything previous. "Public Place" includes outdoor locations, buildings and enclosed spaces open to the public such as theaters, taverns, restaurants, clubs, dance halls and establishments with limited membership and age restrictions. "Public" appearances of any kind in any of the aforementioned states of "nudity" (unless you're under the age of 10) will result in a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine of up to $300 and/or 6 months in jail.

All that because you wanted some donuts and forgot your pants. But Boiseans aren't prone to naked pastry runs, and as a result, there have only been ten violations of the Nudity Ordinance since its inception in May 2001. Rich Wright, Communications Director for the Boise Police Department, said that public nudity just isn't a problem here.

"It really doesn't happen much at all," he said. According to his records, nine of the citations stemmed from a strip club bust (and those were thrown out in court), and the details of the other were not available. Wright said that none of the officers he spoke to remembered any noteworthy naked incidents, but that doesn't mean they aren't happening.

For instance, every year during the first snowfall, students at Albertson College of Idaho (which is well outside Boise city limits and laws) participate in something called the "Finney Fun Run." Student body president, Luke Malek, said it involves running stark naked from dorm to dorm and doing calisthenics in the snow.

"It's a great tradition that the students, faculty and community all get into," Malek said. He believes indecent exposure is a "context thing" and that nudity for the sake of pranking and recreating is acceptable as long as it doesn't hurt people or make them uncomfortable.

Nathan Poulton, a 24-year-old BSU student, thinks there are situations where concern for others doesn't apply. Wearing nothing but tennis shoes, he and a friend streaked up 8th Street last Halloween and found themselves in an interesting predicament.

"The adrenaline kept us going for a while, but we got tired and ended up walking a ways completely naked," Poulton said. Passing motorists probably had a good laugh, and so did he. When asked whether he worried about offending people, he was candid. "You don't do something like that with regard for other people. It's a fun and ridiculous way of saying 'here I am with what God gave me,' and it shouldn't be taken so seriously."

"J," a soon-to-be 72-year-old Boisean who preferred to remain sexless if he/she had to admit his/her age, felt the same way. He/she remembers skinny-dipping in gravel pits and sunning on rooftops with his/her friends and sees no harm in nudity that is pure fun or has a point.

"In art or entertainment, nudity for nudity's sake is stupid," "J" said. "If it has a place, it's fine, but if it's just thrown in for shock value it's the kind of thing you watch if you have very little social or sexual life anyway.

"Somewhat scathing, "J's" comment brings up the essential questions of what qualifies as art and where do details stop being poignant and become repugnant? Over the years the line has been blurred, scribbled and erased to suit personal tastes, but there are some venues that seem untouched by the sways of time and interpretation. Tim Close, director of the Boise Art Museum for the last three years, says they have had no trouble or negative feedback surrounding exhibits that featured nudity or other "mature" themes.

"There are no restrictions in place. We choose works based on community standards and artistic value, and this includes historical and contemporary pieces that are diverse in subject matter and viewer reaction," said Close. He said that each visitor brings his own background, thought process and socialization to the experience such that the assignment of qualifiers is totally relative. "Hundreds of years ago, Impressionist works were considered 'trashy' and now they are sought after and admired," he said. You never know what people will be offended by, and it changes all of the time."

Performance art is riskier in its palpability, but Burke Tarrant of Boise Contemporary Theater said that opposition to more "provocative" shows has never been voiced.

"We brought in a Burnt Studios production of a show called ISO which had a fair amount of nudity, and it did very well. The show was all about exposure and vulnerability in sexual and emotional relationships, and the nudity fit," said Tarrant. He added that a portion of the audience probably came for the nudity and left having really enjoyed the plot. "There's always a lot of talk about things like this, but I don't think it's really an issue. A body is a body," Tarrant said.

Along the same lines, a friend suggested I call this piece "Warts and All" as a sort of cutely brazen embrace of the subject that would tease people into being comfortable, but it is not that simple. Nudity is powerful, both visually and ideologically, and people's feelings about it are as varied as their forms. While my friend's idea speaks to shared biology and a welcome acquiescence to human imperfection, there is more to being naked than reconciling insecurity. Countless paintings, sculptures, poems and photographs have captured the body's grace and complexity as well as its fragility, and despite generational cycles of controversy and desensitization, these images still have the power to shock.

They also have the power to move, especially when it comes to fine art and photography. Jen Kniss, an occasional nude model and active member of the Northwestern Liberal Arts Association, knows first hand. She started modeling for figure drawing classes a few years ago, and the experience taught her a lot about perception and pushing the limits of social institutions.

"It was a little nerve-wracking at first because it's such a stigma, but then I saw the drawings," Kniss said. "I was not being looked at for my boobs or even the quote-unquote 'cleft of my buttocks.' Through other people's eyes, every line and muscle of my body became necessary and beautiful, and it affirmed for me that nudity is an important and timeless art form.

"Most people, however conservative, would concede the same. But much like gallery art compares to live theatre, images on paper don't seem as invasive as those on screen. Mari Anderson, a young Boise woman, had wise things to say about the connotative duality of nudity on film.

"It's taboo and yet so mainstream," she said. "We equate nakedness with sexiness, but some of the hottest sex scenes I've ever watched contained very little nudity." She mentioned that parental control is a big influence on social attitudes and that her parents were up front and relaxed about nudity. "My parents didn't run around naked, but they let me know that nakedness is natural and has its place," she said.

The phrase "nakedness has its place" suggests that nudity is powerful, offensive and funny for the same reason. It is only allowed in designated areas, and restriction breeds everything from self-consciousness to civil disobedience. For example, the streaking craze or "anti-establishmentism" of the late '60s and early '70s pitted nudity against the governmental machine. Most people consider this the origin of nude political protest, but Lady Godiva went for her infamous ride in defiance of unfair tax practices back in 1057, and the climbing hemlines of turn-of-the-century Gibson girls and 1920s Flappers made a statement about female independence and sexuality long before the so-called "momentary nudists."

While these forms of protest were reactive and harmless, repression can turn ugly. Take for example, the contrast between European and American culture. When it comes to "appropriate" behavior we have very different standards, and the breakdown is rife with contradiction. Stereotypically, alcohol abuse is less of a problem in Europe because drinking is done casually and legally at a young age. American laws make an issue of age and propriety, drawing unsolicited attention to drinking as a source of rebellion and reckless cool. Laws and standards are essential to civilized society and do not necessarily encourage crime, but by making an issue of certain behaviors, they stir people's combativeness and sensitivity.

This observation, while admittedly subjective, applies to nudity as well, evidenced by Europe's greater numbers of nude beaches and vacationers, tasteful mature films and nudist ex-patriots like Ed Burton. Having moved to the states from England a few months ago, Burton has noticed a definite "up-tightness."

"People always talk about what a free, liberal society America is, but there are so many laws and so much paperwork, and people seem afraid sometimes to be themselves," he said. A nine-year nudist, Burton has traveled the world in pursuit of nude recreation and finds Americans to be the most disturbed by it. "There is less discrimination in Europe full stop," Burton said, "and I've noticed that people are a lot more liberal when they leave the states - ”like they don't want anyone at home to know what they're really about."

The disconnect stems from the fact that Americans are taught to be more self-conscious - ”not by any particular person or creed, but by unspoken laws of custom. As children, we conform to societal norms, our inhibitions linked to leftover Puritanism and body awareness born of popular culture. Like Adam and Eve in the Garden, a child's recognition of sin occurs only when he tastes the forbidden fruit of knowledge and becomes aware of himself as a sexual being within a controlled system. Suddenly, running around naked feels wrong, so he takes up a cloak and the accompanying subtexts of society and developing self.

That is not to say that attitudes toward nudity can be generalized or that clothing is universally oppressive. In fact, physical appearance is one of the most distinct facets of identity, and most people are more confident and comfortable clothed. Despite Ed Burton's description of American "prudery," being enlightened and free does not necessarily mean we should all get naked and make s'mores. Wearing clothes does not equate to cowardice, self-loathing or pretension just as going without them does not imply deviance or lack of values. As David Sedaris says, there is something larger and more definitive about people than their nudity, and that goes just as well for what they cover it with.

Over the centuries, people have studied and assessed the human body from every angle, and some believe we have reached the saturation point. Crazed Jerry Springer guests flashing their breasts as punctuation may indicate that nudity has lost its grace, but there is something essential and pure about it that no amount of smutty television can ruin. People have a choice when it comes to attending events or watching programs with questionable content, and the occasional naked jogger is a brief affront if not worth the unexpected chuckle. The point is that being naked is a fact of life. Whether you find it exhilarating or embarrassing, absurd or no big deal, it is one of the most basic and unifying aspects of being human. My mother (loud and indiscriminant as ever) says it best: "We're all naked underneath our clothes."

CONFESSIONS FROM THE NAKED CITY:

Typical Stuff Done Atypically Naked

• conference calling
• answering the door to proselytizers
• going for drives
• picking up friends from the airport
• knitting socks
• running once around the house just to keep things interesting
• playing Twister
• eating breakfast and watching Regis and Kelly
• swinging on the swings at Camel's Back Park
• vacuuming· jumping on a trampoline (yikes¦)
• going for a bike ride· baking cookies
• playing the banjo
• hiking
• ironing
• standing in front of the refrigerator and eating ice cream straight from the carton
• picting: supposedly based on a Scottish tradition, this is the practice of getting naked, painting oneself blue, running through the public square and getting paint on everyone and everything in sight (definitely NOT in observance of the Nudity Ordinance).

Collegiate Range by Leigh Stewart.

TEN BEST PLACES TO BE NAKED IN THE WORLD (AND ONE IN BOISE)

1. Desert Shadows Inn - Palm Springs, California
2. Live Oak Nudist Resort - Washington, Texas
3. Cypress Cove - Kissimmee, Florida
4. Laguna del Sol - Wilton, California
5. The Willamettans - Springfield, Oregon
6. Paradise Lakes - Land O'Lakes, Florida
7. Solair Recreation League - Woodstock, Connecticut
8. Crocus Grove Sun Club - Beausejour, Manitoba
9. The Terra Cotta Inn - Palm Springs, California
10. Glen Eden Sun Club - Corona, California
11. Bare Mountain Hideaway - near Boise, Idaho (call 322-6853 or visit www.bareidaho.com for more information)