Sandstone Retreat: Part II

Sandstone's founder, 39-year-old John Williamson, is soft-spoken, a slightly balding rough-hewn man with a reserved, alsmost courtly manner. He discusses Sandstone's lifestyle and objections which, he said, includes research into living pluralistic (two, three or more people) relationships. "We believe in the sexual self as being at the core of organized social behavioir," he said. "When sexuality s distorted, it leads to a distance the basic self.

Bu Sandstone's mores, an individuals may do what he desires providing the others, singly or together, are willing to go along, as a result, in one room of their retreat, people may be talking, playing chess or engaging in sexual intercourse without any disemination as to what is "proper"

Sandstone's financial life-blood comes from its club members who pay $240 a year membership, allowing them to use the facilities whenever they desire.

SANDSTONE: COURT OPENS WAY FOR UNIQUE LIFESTYLE TO CONTINUE

Wednesdays and Saturdays, are party nights. Couples only come to the retreat in the daytime to sun, nude if desired, swim in the covered pool, read, play chess, relax. At night, the downstairs is slowly lighted. Softly swinging rock music plays. Couples are sitting and talking or sexually engaged, not necessarily with the partner they came with.

Some couples remain clothed. Most do not. It is neither obliging to remove one's clothing or engage in any of the activities. On a full night, there are as many as 80 adult visitors to the ranch, of all races, ages and backgrounds, both married and unmarried.

Old timers Relaxed: While newcomers may be awed by the open sexuality, most old timers are more relaxed by the atmosphere and say they thrive in an environment which allows them to experience without guilt or social stigma.

Sexuality, Williamson believes, can be a barrier to improving relationships, but at the same time is irrelevant to their ultimate success or failure, For example, a man or woman may have emotional feeling for a  co-workr, but because for social, moral and legal boundaries, each is unable to form closer relationships with the other. Once the sexual barrier is gone, in Sandstone's view, a more fulfilling relationship is possible,

"We believe in the acceptance of the physical as well the metnal signs of most man;s natre, " said Martin Zitter, 29, director and pulbic relationships man for Sandstone.

The freedom has a profound effect on marriages. But Sandstone devotees believe that a relationship can thrive by showing individuals who bring, & bring pleasure of both a social and physical nature. "If the key to a relationship is based on a neurotic impulse" Williamson commented, "If they've captured so, they live in fear, in a healthy relationship, this will not happen. They undestand the true nature of their contract.

With the traditional barrier of sexual fidelity no longer a factor, Sandstone residents claim their brand of relationships can create more meaningful human contacts.

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