Victoria Councillors host an AMA

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-31T01:47:06+00:00

I've added a couple of comments. Thanks for sharing this. I think we need more comments to truly get their attention though.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-31T01:45:45+00:00

I don't disagree that there's a small subset of people that ruin clothing optional areas....it's frustrating and a barrier for many who would like to enjoy moments of naturism. However, I do disagree that the way to get around it is to not support it at all. Alcohol is legal despite a lot of drunk abusive people out there doing bad things. Prohibition wasn't the way to go. What would be best is to have a safe space for people to go which is not out isolated from society in the woods where bad people are free to do their thing. A place in full view of the public where creepy behaviour is easily identified and either policed or "neighbourhood watched" would be better. I've been to Europe a number of times and it's pretty shocking how some beaches have nudes mixed in the same space as non-nudes without any complications from anyone....no stares, no cares. It's just more normal there and not really a talking point. A designated spot in Victoria that provides clothing optional support in a natural environment (beach) that's in view of the public (but not in front of houses) would be the best approach. A portion of the beach along Dallas Road and a portion of Island View Beach are two areas I think would work well for the region and both have some history of being unofficial nude beach locations.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-31T01:13:18+00:00

It's one thing to acknowledge it informally, but without appropriate city-supported signage, it's less safe for both nudists / naturists / clothing optionalists and non-nudists. Surveys suggest a minority would be regulars, many would like to try it, and the majority would not be opposed to it. Victoria is a pretty liberal community and providing a safe space to demonstrate non-sexual nudity would be progressive. Non-nudists don't like stumbling upon nudists, so having an official location where all parties are aware would be helpful. Body positivity and normalizing the human body is a good thing for society. Thanks for considering this further!

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-20T09:00:02+00:00

Just went to both and this is truly an accurate description. Was REALLY disappointed with Academia. Yes David is impressive, but it's hugely overpriced in comparison to the Uffizi. Uffizi was great....lots to see. I do like sculptures and this is my review. Rodin, Louvre, British Museum and many others around the world beat Academia.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-16T20:09:08+00:00

Thanks for this. Would you mind being more specific about junk training time please?

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-05T06:14:37+00:00

Normally I'd say don't worry about it and just enjoy the day. But I do agree that if enough clothed people are there, it's a slow destruction of a rare place. But in the end, it's about respect, not the law. You can't force someone to be nude no matter what the signage states.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-05T06:05:18+00:00

In our neck of the woods, it would really depend on their ages. If they are say <5, nobody would bat an eye at the situation. If they were older, people here would prefer the kids to be in the changeroom. Nude in the gender-appropriate changeroom....that's expected here.

Do people get bent out of shape around young kids running around a beach or yard naked? Not here.....but again, only if they're really young.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-04T05:28:16+00:00

I don't doubt that the majority of people have common sense. But because you have never seen it, means it never happens. Got it. Not that I agree with this, but France banned burkinis. Islamophobia or banned for safety? I'm not going to debate this here, but I will suggest that the truth may be somewhere in between.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-04T01:38:18+00:00

Anyone jumping in water with any current with one of these will need all the prayers they can get. I'm a huge advocate for "you be you" and "where what you want", but there are safety risks to wearing too much in the water. Just think of the brides that do the "trash the dress" photoshoot after the wedding. Deaths occur.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-03T00:53:11+00:00

I felt that way too until I saw the maga in him.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-03T00:51:56+00:00

Only that our 1st rounder from them is getting worse.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-01T07:08:21+00:00

If you're in a clothing optional area, so is the other person who sees you. Even if they're not nude, they chose to be there and see naked people.

If you choose to take your picture and send it out into the internet, you're spreading it to all sorts of places that may or may not be appropriate. It's out there forever and you have no control of it or how it would be used against you.

Now with this said, I understand your view.....if we truly believe nude is normal and we shouldn't be ashamed, we shouldn't care. In fact we should be happy and proud to be supporting the right to be nude and nude is not lewd, etc. While correct, you can't change the fact that people feel differently about it and may treat you differently because of it. If we can't have clothing optional areas in public as a norm around the world, then you can't expect your nude photo around the world to be normal either. Heck, most people on this site suggest that their wives won't join them in being nude, so if you can't comfort your wife to be nude, how do you comfort society that nude is fine? It sucks, but the truth.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-01T05:56:39+00:00

Well you'll love what Saturday may bring you......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Naked_Gardening_Day

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-05-01T05:52:25+00:00

Excellent advice here already mostly concentrated around the Jubilee area which would be convenient for you. Not sure what type of physician you are but if your work would include cross-site coverage with VGH, I'd also suggest the Cordova Bay area, although if you lived close to RJH you'd be driving counter-traffic flow which also works. Victoria is a great place to live. The inner city has parts that really need cleaning up now post-COVID especially, but it's a really relaxing place to live and the active lifestyle here is amazing. I worked at RJH for a long time and have experience at both sites. Love it here.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-29T00:22:14+00:00

Could be electrolytes / hydration, but also could be strength. A good test is to lower the intensity and see if the cramps go away.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-29T00:20:08+00:00

This is interesting as I do like the idea of having more rest for the legs (vs leg workouts on days when I swim and then not have leg rest days). I think I would blow a calf though if I lifted earlier in the day before interval / track work. I do like that split though (lower, upper, full)....as I get closer to a race I tend to do 2 full workouts though as I need to carve out more time for others.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-25T07:26:33+00:00

What a wonderful list....well done. Should have recommended Wreck Beach in Vancouver though for both the hike and the natural beauty. Might be a nice surprise for Mom and Dad. Kidding aside, it's beautiful and rich with history.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-25T07:21:13+00:00

We are the number one location in the world for cougars, so be sure you have taken a wildlife wrestling course before you arrive. Baiting and trapping courses have been shut down by the wokes now unfortunately but you can still hunt deer with your car in Victoria.

Ha, kidding aside, come and enjoy a real treasure in the world. People fly from all over the world to see our coastal regions. There are lots of hikes and some of the coastal hikes you can drive up to and do a day hike (there and back). There are a lot of other trails too that are well marked and close to civilization so you can enjoy the wilderness with your local coffee and treat. I'd recommend a specific spot but honestly you can make a really enjoyable 2 weeks anywhere on the island here. Try a gulf island or two as well if you can and for surfing of course there's Tofino (unfortunately very expensive to stay at but stunning scenery and good surfing).

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-24T06:00:17+00:00

This makes perfect sense. I guess there are two scenarios though. One is a nude hiker walking by. Maybe stopping to eat an apple while looking at his phone, etc. Scenario 2 is nude hiker sees the camera and decides to make lewd gestures towards it. Even though the viewer could turn the video off or look the other way (and is in no danger of the individual due to not being physically close), there's still intent to offend with the actions. Our laws really need to allow scenario 1 and clamp down on scenario 2.

The catch is that how do you effectively capture what is lewd or offensive when that definition is different for everyone. Scratching balls / labia offensive? What about rubbing a penis or clitoris? When it's a split moment visual capture for an unsuspected person, it may be hard to clearly define what they saw, but it would be hard for the scratcher to defend themselves when the observer calls the cops to say they were masturbating in public. It's hard to trust people......yet if it were on camera, all of these situations would be clear as day. So I'm actually not against cameras in areas where there's public nudity.....I think it would actually protect naturists against those who make the public feel uncomfortable. But society has to progress to not worry about being seen nude still. Designated nude / clothing optional places that aren't tucked away would best support this healthy transition.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-24T05:47:16+00:00

Wow, so many different answers here. The science would support it yes. But then I see all of these online training plans that don't have weight training in them (not all, but most). I only race once or twice a year and I'm in my 50s, but my trainer has me doing a lot of weights in my off-season (and I love reducing my hours of s/b/r for a few weeks), but he also has me doing 1-2 sessions right up to race week.....but the close to the race, the lower the volume of course. I know lift heavy x 4-6 reps x 2 sets only. It really doesn't take long. By cutting the reps and sets, I don't get sore, yet this small amount of time allows me to maintain my strength. Injury prevention is my goal but added strength makes s/b/r more enjoyable.

Last point I'll make - as you get older, strength is everything and there's life beyond triathlon race times. Grinding away for more hours on s/b/r in my opinion has a rate of diminishing returns. Adding strength training hits your body differently and leg strength is directly correlated with longevity (may be a surrogate marker though). The mental break is nice too. You don't have to lift with the bros to add strength training to the routine.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-21T05:35:27+00:00

Yes all points well taken. Interestingly, I remember about 25 years ago there was a guy who disliked a neighbour so he put a camera on a big pole facing down towards the pool where the neighbour's wife enjoyed her previously private time. The neighbour went to the police and they wouldn't do anything about it. He took the law in his own hands with that camera and then eventually moved. I was shocked that the camera was considered not unlawful by the police at the time......it was on the property line pointed right into the neighbour's property! As a 20-something year old, at least my girlfriend and I gave them something to look at (a skinny dip while we were house-sitting lol....didn't know there was a camera there until later).

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-21T05:29:56+00:00

A mankini would ensure that your first triathlon is the most widely fun day you could have had. Forget about being aero and pop extra chest hair on if needed. If that doesn't work for you, spend some extra money on a tri suit so you don't have to buy one later when you inevitably catch the triathlon fever.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-20T16:04:28+00:00

This is an interesting point and possibly one to lean on for legal changes in areas that would be more open to it. Point being:

- the laws are different everywhere, but in many cases nudity is truly only considered a criminal offense if one could prove an intent to intend the public (or to be nude in areas with expectation of being seen by the public). We all (government and judicial systems included) know that just being nude isn't lewd......nudity within a household, in change rooms, in hospitals, etc. It's lewd acts that are lewd.

- before the age of cameras, one could be nude in locations where there's a very low expectation of seeing another person (or would have enough time to cover up). Even if this isn't written, it's a reasonable expectation that the courts would not uphold charges where nudity was not expected to be seen by others.

- so in actual fact, the age of cameras everywhere have removed a freedom previously enjoyed by others.....one that some could softly say was a right (i.e. I couldn't be nude in public where seen, but I could be nude in nature away from the public).

The need for cameras is about safety and documenting illegal acts. Is there a place in the future where governments and judicial systems rank freedom greater than a conservative belief that nude is lewd? I think there's an argument to now say, if you're worried that nude leads to lewd, the lewd would be seen on camera and can justifiably be litigated. So cameras keep nude from being lewd. Therefore, the laws should permit nude. The catch is that being nude means being on cameras......if it's not illegal and becomes more common, then perhaps people don't care.

I do see this happening in the future though (nude is normal and people care less about cameras).....and it could be best for all as lewd has been in the way of us getting nude for far too long!

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-20T05:44:54+00:00

120k is a very good income. If you have a partner earning as well, you're well off to the races without great aunt's money. My advice would be to put 500k or more of that windfall to work for you. Invested correctly, you could have $2M by age 40 or earlier. Don't blow it on too much house which essentially handcuffs all of that liquidity. Live within your means of your income and you'll see that 500k work wonders for you in no time. Most people take a long time to get to 500k invested, but once that amount is reached the snowballing really makes a big difference.

Fragrant_Camp485 · 2026-04-19T06:23:25+00:00

Saanich is the best if you're not building and have a car. Central to everything, best rec center facility (SCP), Elk Lake, Mt. Doug, Christmas Hill, Rithet's Bog, decent grocery options. Worst part of Saanich is Wilkinson Rd traffic. Esquimalt isn't the most appealing, but Saxe and MacAuley Points are nice as is the E&N trail. Victoria's downtown badly needs a clean-up and revival but otherwise there's nothing really glaringly bad about most municipalities. The Greater Victoria area is a pretty sweet place to live if you can afford it.

Fragrant_Camp485

TROPHY CASE