Discretion

There are those who it is safe to allow into the lifestyle and those it is not so safe. Sometimes, those lines can blur. So, how does one live a 24/7 D/s or M/s relationship when society still looks down on the dynamic? How do you act and react to things differently when around different people? How do you act around family when your Owner is around? Do you do anything differently? I was recently pondering this while trying to find my footing again with Master being on the road once more.
So how do I maintain a M/s relationship dynamic around people? Well, it all depends on who is around. In front of some members of Master's family, I don't have to hide it at all because some of His family is also into the lifestyle. It actually helps to have some close family members who understand.
Around others, I do have to hide it somewhat. In those situations, I act with respect and dignity, but I do not use some of the terminology of the lifestyle. The biggest part of maintaining the relationship dynamic is keeping the respect there even around vanilla people.
I do not wear any of my collars around vanilla people, although I hope one day to be able to have some sort of vanilla friendly jewelery that can be worn at all times to signify the collar.
We do not hide the lifestyle, per se, but we do not broadcast it. In living that way, those who are vanilla have no idea, really. It also helps prevent confusion and questions. I ask Master's opinion on things instead of His permission when out in public, which is our way of me asking permission. I call Him "Love" or "Dear" instead of "Master" when in a vanilla situation.
With a family, we can not always avoid vanilla situations. Life would get pretty boring pretty fast if we did avoid vanilla situations and only participate in lifestyle events.
Around my family, we act completely vanilla, again going with the asking His opinion on things as a code for permission. Around the community we do the same thing, since our community is not really open minded.
In the home, we tend to keep lifestyle stuff in our bedroom for now, where little eyes and the eyes of visitors can not see or find it. The only real public place I have anything lifestyle is in my phone, I have Master's number stored under His title, so I have to be really careful who looks at or uses my phone, or else they may see the entry marked "Master."