by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Diane Archambault

Age: 59

Bio: This charming and erudite Plateau damsel first discovered nudism in the 1970s while living in Paris and happening to stroll along the Côte d’Azur and discovering mountains upon mountains of naked people taking in the sun. Immediately saying to herself, “Wow, this is wonderful,” young Diane quickly disrobed “with no hesitation whatsoever” to soon discover the liberation that comes with nudism. “It’s a fantastic feeling to be surrounded by naked people just like yourself. You feel so accepted, so much yourself, so liberated, free, it just makes you so happy.” Dividing her time between her home in Gatineau, where she works as a freelance translator, and Montreal, where she heads up the Quebec Federation of Naturists, Diane says, “We don’t always realize clothing takes so much of our time and energy. There are so many obligations involved, it’s very demanding. But you certainly notice it once you’re free of clothes, and then… ah, wow!”

Might voyeurism or exhibitionism often be the initial reasons why people take an interest in naturism? “No, if that’s your objective you’ll be very disappointed, it’s not a sexual atmosphere at all. Then again, the first time is always exciting, obviously. It’s thrilling and you’re maybe a little bit afraid, but it generally only takes about 10 minutes to forget everyone is naked. Once you take your clothes off, you realize you’re just like everybody else. And everyone always wants to be just like everybody else.”

Something Diane says is often of concern to neophyte male nudists: That they’ll be sporting a boner the entire time, which is something she says never happens. “Whereas for women it’s more a matter of security—to be able to be yourself, to be naked without hassles. It’s a wonderful feeling. And it’s that much more liberating for women, because in society we’re always being looked at, feeling like we have to look good all the time.”

Does she bother pulling down her blinds when she takes a shower? No.

Something the FQN has been lobbying hard for but with little success to date: Launching a free, clothing-optional beach in Montreal. “Right now all we really have is Oka and Lac Simon, but there’ve been complaints in both those places over the years.”

The average age of FQN members: “We’re all ages, but we don’t have that many teenagers right now, who tend to be more shy about their bodies. Unfortunately, the nudist population is growing older. Many of us are from the 1970s generation. Kids are more into the environment now, less about flower power like in my day.”

Has she ever gone to any naturist events with her parents? No. “Perhaps it would be weird at first, but I’m sure I’d get used to it quite quickly, as with anybody else.”

One new activity the FQN is offering: Naked bowling. For a full schedule of FQN activities, go to www.vivrenu.ca.

Last book read: Pink Blood by Douglas Janoff.

Musical preferences: Leonard Cohen, Jacques Brel.

Words of wisdom: “You can give without loving but you can never love without giving.”

Comments? dimwit@hdot.net