An article in today’s New York Times discusses
the recently discovered differences between the human genome and that of the Chimpanzee. The two, as we all know (and
some don’t like to admit), are very similar. But somewhere down in that twisting, kinked helix we call our DNA there
lies a gene that stopped us from growing hair on our bodies, that led to the invention of clothing, that made Ralph
Lauren a billionaire. And some people don’t like that.
Some people, it seems, enjoy being nude. Even when they travel. This post is about them.
According to recent statistics, nude travel is all the rage. And among the mammalian multitudes whoo enjoy a brisk
breeze betwixt their privates, is a group who favors sailing the open ocean with nothing but sunglasses and, well OK,
just sunglasses. Yes, I am talking about nudie cruises. A company called
Bare Necessities offers ocean-going adventures for those who
like to enjoy their persimmon sunsets sans clothing. It’s not the prettiest sight one can imagine, but the concept does
bring to mind hordes of pale, doughy humans frolicking about the Lido Deck, margaritas in hand, as cool Pacific winds
blow a hundred flesh wind socks in the same direction. Could naked travel be for you? Well, that is between you and
your God. But if you think it might be worth a try, the company is offering in February 2006 a trip aboard a 2,000
passenger ship that will sail from Ft. Lauderdale to the Caribbean. Another offers a 14 day excursion through the
Panama Canal, a trip that will surely make a lot of mosquitoes very happy.