We're lucky in New Zealand to have fenced properties as a standard (as I understand this is not case in some Amercian cities), so privacy isn't too much of an issue. In saying that I train under my carport (to keep out of the weather) which is visible from the street. I have had 2 instances where people have stopped to ask what I was doing (one really drunk girl and some random trash), and I do get the odd car horn sounded (not sure if it is at me since I usually have my back to the road). I assume most people just think I'm a random weirdo, if they do see me, so they leave me alone. Also I mostly train early morning so there are not that many people are around anway. My problem at the moment is I am supposed to be practicing the lei shen (thunder/lightening; dai xinyi, explosive squatting monkey with vocalisation) but I train early in morning and don't want to disturb the neighbours...
In terms of intimidating the neighbours, yeah maybe a little but I don't want to talk to those neighbours anyway so it works in my favour, and the others are cool, leave to my training, are considerate with disturbing me, pretty cool really
[quoteI'm always very leery about training in public, I have an aversion to the spotlight I guess. I have mad respect for anyone who wants to just go have a session in a park or on their lawn, but I haven't been able to do it with any kind of comfort or regularity, ever. ][/quote]
Yeah I don't relish the thought of where I'm going to train when I have to move somewhere that doesn't have a place to train. Not too keen on going 100% public.