You want to go naked in your back garden, should you: (a) just get on with it, (b) inform your neighbours that you will, (c) ask your neighbours if they mind?

 

I don't like (c). There is nothing you can do if they say no, and giving them the choice is likely to skew the answer. Chances are they'll know nothing about naturism, will get the wrong idea and will answer by prejudice not experience.

 

Option (b) works for many people, though you have to have a bit of confidence to do it, and to explain why. Although billed as purely informing, this option can easily lead to a sensible conversation and maybe even some compromises.

 

My preference is (a): provide a reasonable amount of screening and then just get on with it. This has advantages and some risks. The worst, but unlikely risk, is that your neighbours will complain to the police first rather than you, which can result in some inconvenience. The big advantage is that you push against their highest threshold, the one where they will take action and complain, rather than just mutter and get on with their life.

 

This assumes screening sufficient that they are not "forced" to see you. If a neighbour has to stand up close to an upstairs window to look sideways, or open it and lean out, in order to see you then most will accept that they just shouldn't look. Those who won't accept that would complain even if they couldn't see you, or if they had to stand on a step-ladder and look over the fence; there are such people, though thankfully few.

 

It's probably a good idea to be on good terms with your neighbours. If they're happy to talk about who is to mend the fence or to borrow a cup of sugar then, if they don't approve, they are more likely to speak to you first rather than complain to the police.

 

nib 2012-07-22  .. 2012-12-02