Our house,

Is a very, very, very fine house.

Having a safe space to practice naturism is something I sometimes take for granted, and I can forget how difficult it can be for many people.

Occasionally, I have online conversations with people trying to find out about naturism. These conversations remind me how fortunate I am to have my own home, where my partner and I can be naked whenever we like, both indoors and outdoors.

A common topic of conversation is how to navigate the difficulties of shared spaces with family members or housemates. This is something I no longer have to deal with, but that has not always been the case.

In previous living arrangements, there were considerations of awareness and respect of differing comfort levels, which often required a higher level of planning and compromise.

It is true that we bought our current property with privacy in mind, and I have written previously about how I don’t see it so much as luck but rather as the consequences of conscious decisions. We looked at many properties against a list of priorities, rejecting some places because they had little or no privacy.

I recently spoke to a young woman who lives in a home with 5 other adult family members and a small child. She had told me that she enjoyed simply spending time naked and found it liberating, but that the conservative attitudes of her family, along with their propensity to come into her room unannounced, made spending time naked difficult.

Naturism is founded upon respect, but many people don’t see it that way, and in shared environments, people may not have consented to displays of nudity. Their perception is their reality, despite your intentions not to offend. Erring on the side of caution is often a compromise that nudists need to make in order to maintain harmony in the home. Rebelling against the expected norm, many seem pushy and intrusive.

Power dynamics are another consideration. Some people may have trauma histories and be vulnerable or triggered by open displays of nudity. While others, including children, may be unable to articulate discomfort. Research has shown that young children are largely indifferent to nudity and discomfort may not be an issue. Any discomfort is likely to be a result of parental conditioning and attitudes rather than natural, but the discomfort may be real, and we need to consider it.

While naturists understand that their nudity is non-sexual and body positive, others may misinterpret it as sexual intent or exhibitionism.

Like any relationship, the relationship that a naturist has with the people they share a space with will be influenced by the level of communication. Establishing boundaries and expectations in different parts of the dwelling can go a long way to harmonious co-existence. Having people knock on the door to your space and wait for an answer before entering may be a simple solution.

While we have to be respectful not to offend others, we should not expect their attitudes to override our right to be comfortable in our own space. Conservative people should not be pressured to accept things that they are not comfortable with, but neither should naturists be forced to compromise their philosophy or beliefs. Mutual tolerance reduces the chances of either group feeling imposed upon. Respect works both ways.

In some countries, naturism is relatively easy to experience, while in others, it is nigh on impossible. There are some regions where it is illegal to be naked in your own home or on your own property if you can be observed by a neighbour.

So what can you do if you are stuck in a situation where you are unable to enjoy your naturism?

One strategy is to imagine your ideal situation and make it your goal. Once you have that vision of how you want to live, then every decision you make in life will either move you away from or closer to your goal.

This won’t happen overnight and may take years, but when an opportunity for change comes, you will have a strategy to make choices that help you achieve your vision. If a housemate moves out and you need to find another person to take their place, consider another naturist for the vacancy, which may improve your chances of being able to enjoy time being naked at home.

If your family won’t accept your naturism, or you don’t want to have a conversation with them about your clothing preferences, then discussing rules around access to your private space might be one small thing you can do to improve things a little.

Sometimes, moving towards our goal is a culmination of many small incremental steps rather than one big change.

Having a specific vision of how you would like things to be, rather than simply wishing things were different, makes achieving that vision much more likely. This is true in all areas of your life, not just your ability to enjoy being naked at home.

“Your home is your sanctuary. You need to make it a place you love to be in.” - Betty Gabriel

Thank you for reading. Have a comfortable day.

Naturism:
Good for the environment, great for the soul.