“Outdoor living” suggests voluntary exposure to weather and other stimuli, among them noise. The effects of noise on outdoor living are functions of societal factors, the purposes of being outdoors and, of course, the intensity, quality, and source of the noise. This paper discusses some of the concepts involved in relating noise to outdoor living, a brief history of the subject, and current research as reflected by the papers presented at the May 1978 ASTM Community Noise Symposium, as well as by other sources. Included are comments on community noise impact on hearing, human response to transportation noise, and speech interference and community annoyance.