The phrase "camped the doorstep of" implies a persistent and unwelcome presence. There are several antonyms for this phrase that convey a sense of detachment, respect, or distance. One such antonym is "kept a respectful distance from," which suggests that the subject is aware of the boundaries and is not attempting to encroach upon them. Another antonym is "maintained a casual presence near," which implies that the subject is nearby but not fixated on the area or individuals within it. A third antonym is "acknowledged but did not linger on," which conveys that the subject recognized the area but did not spend an inordinate amount of time there.