Last fall and early winter I had a few negative encounters about being barefoot. I have been working setting helping set up an office in another city about 100 miles from home so I have spent some time at a hotel in that city and have not had any negative experiences yet. So Sunday I was at the hotel and went to the hotel restaurant about an hour before their posted closing time. I have been there before and always wore shoes while entering and usually slid them off while seated, but Sunday I was working in the conference room we rent as a makeshift office and was barefoot, I was going to go to my room and slip some sandals on but when walking by the restaurant I noticed only a few guest so I decided to not go to get sandals. I went to the hostess stand and was immediately greeted and seated. She did look down so I am sure she noticed. I was seated at a booth and the hostess also took my order, come to find out she was the manager and also would be my waitress since she let everyone except the cook leave early. As I was enjoying my meal, she came to offer a refill and check on me. By now I am the only person dining. She gave me the check and told me there was no hurry. When she brought my refill back she was shoeless as well. She said I hope you don’t mind I slipped my shoes off as well since you look so comfortable. I smiled and said that was quite alright. She proceeded to wipe down a few tables and we had small talk. So I finished up and left so she could close.
Yes, barefooting can be "contagious", one person is spotted with envy by another party thus creates the envious person to do the same.
I returned to this restaurant last Sunday afternoon, again no issues with not wearing shoes. The manager whom I had the friendly encounter with earlier was there and we had a small conversation. She said on nights she closes as soon as the last guest is gone usually her and the closing waitress kick the shoes off to start the vacuuming and cleaning.
I'm not a mind reader but when I am barefooting down the sidewalk and see people coming in the other direction I intentionally show off try and create envy that I am having barefoot fun by walking on the curb like its a balance beam. I often do that anyway as the curb cement has a nicer texture then the sidewalk. I sure many people rather be barefootn when they see me.
A few years back i went to my local park just outside the city to walk my dog early in the morning during summer, i reached part of the bike trail were it was just mostly soft sand so i took off my sandals and was walking back to my car barefoot with my dog, when all of a sudden this younger woman riding her bike stopped in front of me, and started chatting with me while im holding my sandals in my hand and she was petting my dog. She was very friendly and after a little bit she continued on and wished me a great hike back to my car. I enjoyed her friendlyness, a few years after at a massage therapist, a young woman made a comment about my bare feet, she said for a older guy you really have sexy feet. That really made me feel great. And i do take pride in my bare feet. I love driving my car barefoot, at home barefoot all the time.
