Mark Hemsley said:

I would be quite happy being the only one naked. But only if there was no awkwardness. But I would hate the reverse – being the only one with clothes on – nightmare!

When I read the last sentence, I could really feel in my skin how nightmarish it would be. I imagined being the only one clothed and forbidden to get naked by an evil force. This could be the start of a fantasy short story... but a real nightmare for me, who cannot stand clothing when I can be naked (even sometimes when I can't...), but who is definitely very at ease to be the only naked person in any given place where naturism is tolerated.

On the subject of neighbours, it may be true that we worry more than we need to about what the neighbours might think, but unless you spend social time with your neighbours and know them quite well, it's difficult to know in advance what their reaction to nudity would be.  Do you just brave it and be visibly naked in your house or garden, and hope they are not offended or disgusted?  Do you broach the subject with them in advance and risk being seen as some kind of pervert if they're hostile to the idea?  There's no way back from that, if it's a bad reaction, and you're stuck with your neighbours.  Some people are very negative about nudity and have a lot of shame, embarrassment, conditioning etc. around it, unfortunately.

I'm in this situation at home - I live in a semi-detached house and can easily screen off my garden from all the neighbours except the young couple next door.  We get on well and I don't want to spoil it or make it awkward by asking if they'd be offended at seeing me naked, and having an unfavourable response.  On the other hand it's annoying when I have a rare day at home on my own and have the freedom to be naked around the house, and in my secluded area at the bottom of the garden, but have to keep putting shorts on and taking them off all day long just to walk up and down the garden.  Perhaps I need a slightly roundabout way to test the waters by mentioning my nude sunbathing area, or World Naked Gardening Day or something like that...

That might be a viable option, John R.  Only you could make that decision, as it would be based upon your current relationship with them, how you feel they might react even to the suggestion, your choosing of the right time and setting to broach the issue.  Good luck with it and please let us know if you do talk to them and how it turned out.

I might suggest, 1. find a day when both you and they are out in the yards, 2. only when they are out together, rather than she alone (for example), and 3. bring it up as though a spontaneous thought.  "Hey, there's something I'd like to pass by you two. Please don't be shy to answer candidly and I'll certainly abide by your wishes as good neighbors..."   etc.

Is it just yourself or do you share you nudity with anyone else? I thing I do feel -if you broach the subject-  word it in a way that doesn't allow them to step in and tell you not to be naked. You could say something like. I use a private part of my garden for naturist sun bathing. Currently I get undressed there. I was wondering if it would be offensive to you if I could walk through the garden naked rather than have to dress to then undress when I get there. 

That way they do not have the power to tell you they don't want you to use the private part naked. They also aren't being given the option of whether they would RATHER you were not naked but instead have to take the stronger stand of deciding that it would be OFFENSIVE to them which if they are reasonable people they may feel is going to far. 

How comfortable are you being naked around other people? 

Very, provided those people are not offended by my nudity.

Is it different to be naked around family or friends than it is around strangers? 

Not really, I was naked at home as a child and more recently, after my divorce, I lived with my mother, who was, very open minded anyway,  and was nude in the home at all times and on the property whenever the weather was good enough.

Are you happily nude at home in private but fear being naked in public?

My clothes come off at the drop of a hat! so no, nudity in public holds no fears for me.

Are there some people you just could never be naked in front of?  

No one I can think of

How do you feel about being naked when some or all others are dressed? 

It doesn't bother me. I model nude for art classes as a life model which puts me in that position regularly. Generally everyone just gets on with what they are doing.

Interactions with postmen and milkmen and other people that call at the house have resulted in some funny moments, but no one was offended and all took it in their stride. I usually keep a wrap handy by the door but on occasions I have been caught whilst walking in from the garden.

Neighbours can be a problem - in my current place I have a couple of Karens living close by which limits my nudity to indoors only, but in rural communities where I lived before no one seemed to mind the usual comment being along the lines of "Oh that's Bill - he's always nude" and then goes on to another topic of conversation

This post was edited by Bill Watts at July 24, 2025 12:44 PM BST