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Anybody remember that movie “The Full Monty?” It was a hilarious British film about some guys in a down and out community trying to make something happen. In their case simple happenstance got them to thinking about putting on a strip show for the local women. The main issue they faced: whether to strip down to thongs (my brain editor here: men in thongs are a generally bad idea) or to go the full monty and give the ladies a full thrill. Ultimately they went all the way.

Why I write about this relates to the Natatorium shower scene. It’s a group shower tucked into the far Ewa end of the Natatorium structure. There is a communal shower with six shower heads, and an additional one by itself. Depending on what time you go there are varying numbers of guys going through their morning routines. They come in all shapes and sizes, much like the goofy crew in the film. So do you brave it all to hang out or do you wear your bathing suit?

I’m not saying that I’ve ever felt threatened, but there are days that the vibe seems more comfortable than others. I watch as some guys bear all, while others keep shorts on. Some will go barefoot into the shower while others keep slippers on. These are important decisions I think as this is a widely used facility by beach-goers and un-homed alike. Privacy and sanitary conditions are factors.

Today was one of those days when it was more crowded. But I’m not going to tell you what choice I made. You’ll just have to guess.

Previous posts in this series:

• Back Seat Office
• Staying Connected
• Those Small Indignities
• Putting Your Life in Storage
• One Step Forward, One Step Back
• Exciting New Career Opportunities
• End of the Day
• Solutions Wanted
• When to Hold On, Let Go?
• Location, location, location
• Range of Motion
• Food More Than Sustenance
• Figuring It All Out Someday
• Solitude
• The Good, The Bad
• From The Heart
• Does Anyone Really See Me?
• Keeping Perspective
• Showers at the Natatorium
• Achieving Homelessness