Moving Quietly: From The Secret Naturist Handbook
To ability to move quietly without attracting attention is an essential skill for the secret naturist. It allows you to pass by unseen and unheard and helps you comply with one of the Principles of secret naturism - to take, at all times, reasonable steps to avoid being seen by members of the public..
A question was once asked of me, does it really matter if you make a noise? The answer is both yes and no. In an urban setting in the wee small hours, any noise might be investigated. Out in the countryside, any noise will likely to have little or no effect, depending on the proximity of people. However, one point I must mention, and experienced secret naturists reading this will be well aware of it, is that when you are naked and alone, perhaps at night and out in the countryside, even the slightest sound you make seems to be the loudest sound you have even heard. Need I say more. No noise is good noise.
The ability to move quietly is achieved by the elimination of noise and for the secret naturist, sources of noise can generally be broken down into four separate categories:
1. Contact with the environment
Any physical contact between the secret naturist and the environment will produce noise. This can be when walking on dry surfaces such as grass, wet ground, gravel, etc. Brushing against vegetation is also another common cause. In urban areas, gates & doors are likely candidates to watch out for. Even walking barefoot on dry and smooth tarmac makes a noise. These causes can very difficult, and in some instances, almost impossible to avoid.
2. Movement of carried objects
This noise source is the easiest to remedy. Any metallic object making contact with another will produce noise. Keys are the most common example and an elastic band is all that is required to stop the problem. Less of a problem but still noticeable is the use of zippers and Velcro. When you are alone in the still of the night, pulling the Velcro on a jacket can seem to be loud enough to wake the dead. Only real option here is to avoid these two materials, if possible. Obviously, a sure fire way of not producing noise from carried objects is not to carry any.
3. Involuntary actions
Coughing, sneezing and instinctive reaction, such as from sudden frights can, if they happen at the wrong time or place, give the secret naturist away. Coughing and sneezing can be controlled to some extent and perhaps best would be avoiding the cause in the first place, as in the example of hay fever caused by pollen. Instinctive reactions are nearly impossible to avoid. I defy anyone who has had a grouse shoot out from under their legs in the dead of night, not to make some kind of noise!
4. Secondary noise
This is often caused as a result of the secret naturist actually physically being there. A good example being a cat who disturbs a dustbin lid which in turn alerts the occupant of a nearby house. Another example is not closing a door properly and the wind slams it shut. Again, care should be exercised in both these cases. Secondary noise can also be caused through no fault of the secret naturist. For example, a car alarm might be set off by the wind with the resultant investigation of the owner. The secret naturist might be caught in the open in such as event.
The elimination of noise is really an art and with all skills, practice is required and a bit of forward thinking also helps. A good example is when purchasing a torch. Is it switched on by a loudly clicking switch or by twisting the head. One makes a sound the other does not. Which one would you choose?
Finally let me make you aware of the concept of concentric rings. This is where an event, possibly caused by the secret naturist, creates a secondary event, which in turn creates another event. These events will spread out from the cause in ever increasing circles of disturbance. A good and common example, would be disturbing a pheasant. Its initial alarm call would alert all creatures in the area, possibly alert humans as well. Its subsequent escape flight might be noticed by a dog, which might give chase. Then the dogs actions might cause the owner to wonder what all the fuss was about. An interesting concept to be aware of and one you can make use of yourself.
