I'd figure that it could have been the mom and kids. Parents are protective, fearful, always on alert and see what is not there. You redirected, so they may have seen it as a perverted act, instead of just walking down the street and doffing your hat politely (had a hat?). If you had walked past, what would you have done if she overreacted?
It is these potentials that inhibit my personal nude exploits, be they at a party, or on a hike. These myths and stories have been ingrained in me from an early age. It is an entirely different experience to walk on a reservation knowing that i'll have complete acceptance, than walking a street with unknowns, especially when my knee jerk reaction is to perceive that I may be judged harshly.
An example was a party with a group of friends. Nearly all took a turn naked in the pool to cool off, but most redressed and didn't remain undressed in the house, where food and toilets were and a group doing music. I felt uncomfortable being naked in the house in the tight quarters and had a towel as a security blanket, at least on my shoulders. That was me that day, it depends on me usually. DF had no inhibition, she embraced full nudity, telling me how liberated she felt to be able to just be herself.
I couldn't know what I would feel walking down the street. What if I were a woman? Some just don't know that it is permissible to be nude, yet. They see it as civic duty to report the illegal offense. I wonder how your police responded to the call, perhaps with sympathy?
New York has topfreedom, but who's using it?
You are a trail blazer for social change. You are the messenger. There could be backlash when people in your community begin to talk. This is new territory. Change in oneself is often better incremental, or sometimes just better to jump in the pool. So what you're doing is an act of minding your own business, but you can't escape being instrumental for social change an emissary of sorts.
Like just being naked at first, one gains confidence, grace, and natural social human characteristics pop out as practice is had.
Although the police make you nervous, it is probably good to keep close to them. They can help you, as well as scare you and give you the information that you can use as a barometer.
I find your situation fascinating as heck. I'd love to participate in such social experimentation. I want to hear how this goes. How you deal with it within and without. All I have is the tooleys when I occasionally come across another hiker to understand. I watch reactions, and take note of positives and uncomfortable, and haven't had a negative. Your situation may be different, or maybe not. I want to know, so please, report and discuss this here with us.
If it didn't rain so much, DF and I would be over there, curiously experiencing just what it could be like, as if visiting another planet.
Jbee
