I got to go barefoot today, all thanks to a new pair of shoes that were giving me grief. I was walking home and finally couldn't stand it anymore--took off my shoes and walked home barefoot. My feet started to hurt after a few minutes (it's not too warm out yet), but it sure felt great! If I hadn't had my shoes in my hand, people probably would have wondered why I was barefoot in March!
Nothing like a new pair of shoes bothering you that you had to take them off. If anyone asks, just show them your new not yet broken in footwear. Keep 'em off! (ok, as long as possible)
Why does someone need an "excuse" to go barefoot? You don't need an "excuse," nor do you even need a "reason." You go barefoot because it's your personal preference. That's all anybody ever needs to know. If you think people are wondering why you're barefoot, let them wonder. That's their problem, not yours. That's not to say you can't discuss all the great reasons why you like going barefoot with someone who is friendly and is genuinely interested. But for someone who rudely asks something like, "Why are you barefoot?" or "Where are your shoes?", you have no obligation to try to justify what you are doing. You have a right to make a choice in what you wear on your feet or not wear on your feet, and it's really nobody's business but your own. You're doing nothing wrong.
You're right, they probably did. But on the other hand, I look at people out in public myself and sometimes wonder, "Why would he wear that? I'd never wear something like that in public," or maybe like, "Why is she wearing a coat? It's not cold," or other things like that. That's part of the enjoyment of people-watching. Indeed, people look at other people and wonder all kinds of things. But do we need to be concerned about what somebody else is "wondering"? I don't think so. If we like to go barefoot, we should just go barefoot. It's our personal choice, and we're doing nothing wrong.