Privacy's not a switch, but a dial right?

I'd say process. You need security and that is a process (both in the physical and digital world) and that needs continuous maintenance. Thus, to have privacy, you have to spend a lot of time on the security of your personal environment. Awareness is key. The downside is that you may not get to experience/perceive all that freedom, because you get a shitton more work that is non-optional.