freedom, responsibility and ownership

Bonny is growing - 5 months old now - here is the latest pic.

There's been some trouble in paradise and it has made me think again about how much we can exercise freedom without impinging on other people and whether owning property is indeed theft!

Bonny and I enjoy a walk every morning around two lakes which are part of this site which includes the marina and shops. The whole site is owned by one business man. Up until last week we could walk around both lakes using a circular path. We would meet lots of other dog walkers, most of whom let their dogs run off the lead. Bonny has been excellently socialised through these walks and I have made some friends. Cyclists and joggers also used the well maintained paths.

Recently, the owner decided to stock the lakes with trout and sell permits to fishermen. As soon as this took off, signs started to spring up around the site. First there were warning signs advising walkers to look out for back casts. Then, one day a fence appeared, stopping anyone using the circular walk. You could walk all the way round but then you had to turn back and retrace your steps. Then the next day more signs - 'Anglers only beyond this point', banning the rest of us from most of one lake, and finally 'all dogs must be kept on leads at all times' everywhere around both lakes. All of these innovations happened within one week. (oh and an additional fence stopping us walking through the woods to the lock, towpath and local pub!)

Needless to say the dog walkers, cyclists and joggers are most peeved. We all have a good whinge when meeting each other and most of the dog walkers are ignoring the instructions. I decided to obey the 'Anglers only past this point' sign but not 'the leads on at all times' one. Bonny is really good now at coming when she is called and has to spend the rest of the day on a lead when outside, so this was her only 'free time'.

I also had a conversation with the two bailiffs who have suddenly appeared, wearing day glow jackets and camouflage trousers. Both men live on the same pier as me and I would call them friends. They said that the owner could do whatever he wanted and that he was only protecting the fishermen from being bothered by dogs - after all the fishermen pay, the rest of the community don't. I pointed out that not everything should come down to money and that the owner has managed to spoil the enjoyment of hundreds of people, not to mention upsetting most of the village at the very time he is applying for planning permission. We had a lively discussion and parted agreeing to disagree. I thought that was that. But the next day I was summoned to the Marina office to be given a dressing down by the person who works there. I was told that a dog walker (or two) had been into the office to report I had been moaning about the new regime, and the marina staff member told me I was to stop talking in this way to villagers and to direct any complaints to management! I enquired whether freedom of speech has also been banned and pointed out that I was having a conversation with friends which was very different from wanting to make any formal complaint! I also said that I suspected it wasn't a dog walker who had dobbed me in, but one of the bailiffs, after our conversation (denied). I was reminded that, according to my mooring agreement, if I caused any trouble, they could require me to leave.

I was really upset. I felt as if all my freedom had been removed at one fell swoop. I also couldn't help looking at the other dog walkers and my bailiff friends with suspicion, wondering who it was that reported me. This is my home and yet I cannot walk or even talk in peace and freedom. The facts of course are clear. The owner of the site can do whatever he wants to do and can impose any rules as this is private property. He even owns the water under my boat and can chuck me out whenever he feels like it.

I suddenly felt really claustrophobic. My mooring spot is directly outside both the marina office and my workplace and the bailiffs walk past my boat every day. I am surrounded by fences and feel like I am being watched. So I have moved. I can't move out of the marina as there are no other live aboard moorings within striking distance of work. But I have moved piers to the most remote spot of the marina and it is lovely. Most of the boats on this pier are not lived on and so there aren't many people about. I am surrounded by grass rather than fences and car parks and although I am closer to the A38, it is actually less noisy here. Bonny loves it - especially as we seem to be living in Watership Down rabbit country!

But have I wimped out? I feel I have run away from the fight rather than standing my ground. But then was I right to fight in the first place or am I becoming an anarchist; rejecting all rules imposed from 'above'? I still refuse to keep Bonny on a lead all the time- but only let her off on our early morning walls when no fishermen or bailiffs are around. It doesn't feel right to me that one man can declare a whole area his and then directly affect the lives of many people he hasn't even met! And all in the name of profit. Then again, if he hadn't developed this old gravel pit into the marina it is today, I wouldn't have a home here.

Here is the lake - before the trouble...