I open carry everywhere in the South Alabama area. Have no problems whatsoever, but I don't go looking for trouble and don't make it a point to draw attention to myself, or "show off" in a manner to make sure everyone around me knows that I've got a firearm on my hip. That type of behavior doesn't help anyone and actually hurts those of us who are proponents of open carry and the Right, not privilege, of having the means to defend our lives if and when such an unwanted incident and perpetrator(s) cross our paths. The way you comport yourself when open carrying is vitally important so keep that in mind.
That said, I had occasion to intervene for a friend who has a local business in the area. He had closed for the day (Saturday) and I just happened to be in the area where his business is located. He had a customer who had refused to pay for a great deal of work he had performed for this customer that, had I performed that same work, would have cost his customer at least $1,500. Anyone else would have charged $2,0000 or more. He charged the man $300 which served to keep that man's business up and running and allow him to track inventory and business records. Without going into great detail, my friend had done some additional work on the equipment which made it temporarily inoperable until he received the meager payment for that work. It was one of those situations where he was walking a fine line even though he had provided his customer with parts that had cost my friend money to purchase.
The cheap b*st*rd that refused to pay my friend called the city police and two officers had responded to that particular business and situation where the work was done. My friend had already closed his business as it was a Saturday and he was not around at the time. I walked over to talk with the officers and let them know what I was told about it. I also happened to be carrying my holstered .45acp as is my usual custom and practice. I spoke with both officers explaining what was going on and that I had been called to configure one part of the system in question and didn't charge the friend's customer anything as a courtesy to my friend.
The officers felt that even though the friend's cheating customer was morally wrong in my estimation, they felt it could be a criminal matter relative to my friend and a civil matter relative to the thieving man who refused to pay for the service my friend rendered him in allowing him to run his business by keeping an integral part of the machines he uses to run that business. I told the officers that I would contact my friend and let him know what he needed to do and offered to intervene myself so that my friend didn't have to re-enter that business as he was a bit upset for having been cheated.
One of the officers told me to be sure not to wear my pistol when going into the store as it might escalate the situation and scare the cheat. I stated my age and explained that I was far too old to get caught up in any problems of that nature and that I fully understood the need to leave the firearms behind. They said nothing about me open carrying, didn't ask me to disarm, didn't ask to see the pistol so they could run the serial number, NOTHING.
I have to commend those Mobile city officers for their professionalism, knowing the laws on open carry, and not hassling me for doing so. They didn't appear to be rookies although neither had any stripes on their sleeves. One looked to be just slightly younger than I and the other was in his late 20s, early 30s. The younger one was a bit more aggressive but it was more to do with the situation they had been called out on and not me in general as I interpreted it.
So walking right up to two Mobile city officers on foot fully armed to intervene on behalf of a friend after someone that had cheated him had called them and made certain allegations I was not privy to did not result in any untoward situation for me. I would mention the officer's names as I got both of their business cards but respect their privacy and will refrain from doing so. Again, I commend them for their professionalism regarding my open carrying and their apparently being knowledgeable of the laws on open in Alabama.
I tend to be somewhat hyperbolic and tangential, but I hope the above story helps you come to a real life understanding based upon a real life experience that I had with two Mobile city officers just four days ago (March 8, 2014) while open carrying and while those officers were in the middle of an open call.