A few people have asked which clothing-optional spa I went to ("Bare Down There or Square," 11/10/06). While I kept the column intentionally vague, I thought I would answer here rather than cut and paste into several email replies.
We went to Desert Hot Springs, just north of Palm Springs. This is a small town built over a natural aquafier, with — apparently — world-famous water. The spring water emerges warm and does not smell like sulfur like many of the springs in northern California; it didn’t turn my jewelry black, either.
Desert Hot Springs Hotels & Spas
We stayed at the Living Waters Spa, which is built around a swimming pool and a smaller therapy pool ("hot tub") and owned by two massage therapists.
It was disconcerting at first, as my other hot springs experiences have all been at Wilbur Hot Springs, where the tubs are built almost into the creek and you’re in the trees when you soak. Also, at Wilbur, you’re only naked in the baths, while at LWS, you only don clothing when it’s time to leave.
If you need to disconnect from the internet or the world, this is the kind of place to do so ("Go Retro: Disconnect to Connect", 11/3/06). It’s that lack of pockets — you can’t sneak your mobile device around with you, so you can’t fool yourself into thinking you’re not really online. LWS does have wifi and also a "guest laptop" if you needed to check in, but I really did take 48 hours away from the internet.
It was wonderful. And when I got back, I re-appreciated the internet and everyone on it.
Meanwhile … I’m working on a few ideas about being naked on the internet vs. naked in the world, and being naked in your avatar vs. naked in your body, and the different types of nakedness and nudity … It’s all pretty amorphous right now but feel free to email me with your thoughts on the matter (and yes, I’m again being intentionally vague) or post ’em to the comments here.
