In the world of naturism, there is a lot of hiding from others. The average nudist or naturist club is surrounded by barriers which don’t allow passersby to see the naked people within. Often there is a locked gate with a code needed [or a key] which reinforces the secret of who is a nudist/naturist. The club I frequent is no different. Even within the club grounds, the secrecy is maintained. Often people only know each other by a first name with the rest of one’s identity left unspoken.
Personally, after writing my autobiography a number of years ago, the secret of my being a man who prefers/needs nudity was made public. In a small town of just over 500 people, dozens of copies of my book were purchased. Then, the Naked Poetry books made an appearance. If I thought that I could maintain the “secret,” I soon learned otherwise. Now again, I live in a small rural community on the Canadian prairies. Most houses don’t bother with fences between neighbours, and if there is a fence, it is often a frost-wire fence because of little kids or pets. I have a fence along the back edge of my yard. Trucks drive down the back lane, neighbours walk down the lane.
We have discussed building a privacy fence so that others won’t be offended as they walk past when they see me writing on the deck or meditating. The problem, is that is a bit late since many have already seen me in my natural state though no one talks about it. A privacy fence at this point would be like locking the barn door after the horses have escaped. It would also convey a message that nudity needs to be hidden and is shameful. I’m not going to go there.
However, my situation isn’t a normal one. Many found out through my books, before I risked being nude in my own yard [read book three to see how this evolved]. For most people, privacy fences are vital, not for “shame” reasons, but for “security” reasons. When your neighbours are strangers, then the risk is too great. The task then becomes one of somehow communicating with all one’s neighbours about one being a nudist/naturist and why that is the case. Even then, the need for a high privacy fence remains as one can’t control the non-neighbour traffic that passes by one’s yard.
What is your situation? What, if anything, have you done to communicate with neighbours so that they are less likely to file a report should you be seen while nude in your own yard?