That’s correct. I’m in the Pacific Northwest.
I ditched my last pair of swim shorts about 15 years ago and, with the exception of a few athletic activities (cycling and hot yoga, neither of which I do much of these days), I haven’t worn shorts in quite some time. The weather here is rarely warm enough to necessitate shorts, and the ugly, uncomfortable cargo shorts that were fashionable in the late '90s and early '00s turned me off to them entirely.
Puget Sound and the coastal beaches are rocky, and the water is freezing. I still have nightmares about the swim test we had to pass at summer camp before we were allowed to use the boats. Fortunately, there are plenty of lakes and rivers that are more pleasant to swim in, and people sunbathe at the waterfront parks. During the cooler months, there are spas where you can wear a thong, although I did have a problem with the double standard at one recently. Other members of the community have worn thong swimsuits at pools in the area without issue, but I’m not much of a lap swimmer and haven’t explored that option myself.