Nosy neighbors are ruining our romance!

Dear Just the four of us,

You're not alone in valuing privacy, especially for the more intimate facets of your life. If the neighbors were your friends, your set-up may have allowed you to play a little practical joke on them involving a conversation you "accidentally" let them overhear. But since you don't seem to be on great terms with your neighbors, exploring some privacy-enhancing solutions may help you best mitigate the challenges of your current circumstance.

First, to validate: limiting your self-expression during sex — or even during conversations with your partner — because of what the neighbors might hear puts an unfortunate burden on your relationship. It's polite to consider that other people might not want to hear your every word or listen to you have sex all the time, but intimate conversations and sex are natural and nothing to be ashamed of. Still, some privacy is clearly critical. Do the neighbors have any kind of regular schedule? Maybe they're usually away from home at certain times. You might use those times for more private activities or conversations.

Have you ever spoken directly with your neighbors? They might appreciate more privacy too, and you could work out a solution together. If you'd rather not talk with them, and it seems like they're always there, maybe playing some music could camouflage your conversations. Sounds of the ocean? A little Mozart? They also sell small machines that produce "white noise," which masks other sounds without being loud. Sometimes offices that require privacy use this kind of machine to help ensure confidentiality, and some people use them if background noise prevents a good night's sleep.

Rearranging your living space might also enhance your privacy. Could you move your bed or bedroom farther from the wall you share with the neighbors? Hanging a thick tapestry on the wall might also offer some noise-dampening effect. If you can't move somewhere with thicker walls or replace your neighbors with lovely people who don't listen to and mock you, increasing the ambient noise level in your living space may offer you more privacy, or at least prevent you from hearing your neighbors make fun of you. Hopefully, you can focus on enjoying your music and your boyfriend.