The Serious No Shoes Option

So you say. I gave up socks a year ago, and I'm still loving the sockless vibe. Barefooting just gets better and better the more you keep at it. Of course, you needn't "do it" 24/7, but do keep in practice.
"Hey, how do I get to Carnegie Hall barefoot?"
"Practice, practice, practice....."

 

nospam congrats on the 2 weeks, your lucky i work in an office and have to wear dress shoes. by the way may i ask how old r u?

 

The only pair of shoes I own sits under my desk at work. And the only time they get worn is when I have to go into the shop where they are required, otherwise, I'm BF in the office. I rarely get hassled by retail store clerks. When I do, I explain my reasons for not wearing shoes. Most of the time, this works and they let me in.

 

I'm 23.

 

I've performed at Carnegie Hall, but I was wearing shoes.

It was this thing where they bring in choirs from the midwest to have the chance to perform at Carnegie Hall... We did Lux Aeterna by Morten Lauridsen. It was absolutely beautiful.

 

So, i just got laid off today....well i got a package so it's ok. and i hated the place as well, but it pisses me off. anyhow, i just followed nospam's lead and threw shoes out. went to mall and will probably try a movie tonite or tomorrow.. It (no owning shoes) is fun actually and makes me feel better. into nyc to visit friends this weekend and philly for a barefoot contest tomorrow......

 

nospam, not just saying it, cause thats probably what it sounds like. this is just convenient timing and you inspired me and so shoes gone and the adventure begins. thanks for making me think this.....mike

 

Glad you liked the idea. The day I got rid of my shoes I had a couple beers in me so the reality didn't really sink in until the next day. I didn't regret it, but have to say that I almost felt naked and vulnerable the next day knowing that I had no choice but to go out barefoot. And oddly enough, a little sexually arousing.

 

Yeh sorta understand the arousal thing cause it is fun and the idea ur basically "screwed" is so much fun....mike

 

fact u did it sorta drunk i think is even cooler. so i am without a choice shoe wise, any ideas are welcome. i'm not exactly upset about a job or never (for awhlie) able to own shoes or sox,,,,,like you i am sorta stuck and that is cool.

 

The thing i've noticed is that the more i go about this experiment, the more i am not worried bout where i go. For instance some stores like liquor stores get uptight cause of possible glass. After doing that I now am not concerned about other locales i might have been wary about being barefoot in now. Is that what you found? Anyone?

 

Guess that kind of goes with the territory of not owning any shoes. Deciding whether or not to wear shoes somewhere hasn't been an option for me for a while now. If I have to go somewhere, I'm going barefoot.

 

True. I guess I meant that I'm getting over the mindset of could i/should I over going somewhere barefoot. Yes, there is no choice. I'm still finding it exciting in a really good way, and still sorta arousing like you said. Def recommend the experiment to any barefooters to try, even if thye're not out of a job and they can only do it for a week or 2 on vacation. Try it by giving your shoes and sox to someone who will never let you see them.

 

I went on a 2-week vacation and left all footwear at home. Barefoot on the streets, into shops, and at restaurants. OK, it was a beach community, but still barefoot for 2 weeks!

 

so today had some county biz and totally got thrown out of the county courthouse. .

 

Also, soles getting even tougher than normal. and not getting sorta clean in shower each morning. this is only.....um day 5 of this. so have to although being behind, catch nospam in experiences. hats off....or shoes and sox off....mike

 

I made a call to see a lawyer that does workforce stuff. At the very least need to have agreements looked at before signing. Am gonna be forced to explain the barefoot thing when we make the appointment. This is also new and interesting.

I'm finding that when I can't be a spoiled boy and pick and choose when I can be barefoot it causes all sorts of interesting situations. For instance I need to renew prescriptions but CVS is militantly against barefeet so will have to talk my way in. In a way I am starting to appreciate the point of Soles for Souls and Hanson for trying to get media attention. Not to put some altruistic spin on this, cause I love being barefoot in public, so am the spoiled wanna go barefoot boy, but if ya got no shoes it's really a diff ballgame. And that is becoming a major lesson.

 

We don't have CVS (or at least not many) where I live. A few months ago I went barefoot to a CVS in Greensboro, NC, when I was there on business. I had a few items to get, so I wandered all over the store. As I remember, some guy was staring at my feet when I checked out, but that was the only odd thing about my visit.

I guess it's like a lot of places - the reaction all depends who's working when you go in.

 

When I started barefooting about 10 years ago initially I felt self conscious about being seen barefoot in places where the norm was to wear footwear. After reading an article in the NY Times, I decided to go for it. Indoors, my favorite mode is buck naked (when my children are not around), but since doing this in public can cause you to get arrested, I go out wearing as little as legally possible. In the past I wore an anklet and toe rings but now I enjoy the freedom of having nothing on me with the exception of a pair of short cut-off jean shorts, which I wear commando. I no longer wear a watch as well. If I need to wear a top when I'm in some stores, at work or in the coffee shop, I keep a tank top around. I've discovered that rarely do I need to have any footwear.
Cold weather barefooting is a blast! Usually mid-September I'll start wearing a top with sleeves and in the winter time I'll add a few layers above my waist, but from the waist down it's still my cut-offs and bare legs and feet.

Although I feel that people are missing out on the health benefits and enjoyment of going barefoot, I am a sucker for all the stares I get, especially between October and April where men are all in their pants, shoes and socks, and all women (who in the warm months are in bare legs and open shoes)- have their legs covered in either pants or hose and wearing shoes or boots with socks while I'm on the subway, in the coffee shop or standing in line at the bank in my bare legs and feet. It's really a thrill to be seen barefoot in public at these times and I go out of my way to let people notice my feet, going up to people and striking a conversation. It's a real confidence builder. And the great thing is during the conversation people realize that I'm a fairly normal guy who's made the fashion choice of bare feet.
Granted there are times when I do have to succumb to footwear - usually at my wife's request when we go out. She normally wears pants, stylish zipper boots and trouser socks in the winter so I'll put on a pair of pants and my flip flops, which don't stay on my feet for more than five minutes. On average I have something on my feet for a weekly average total of 3 hours a week in the summer time and about 5 hours a week in the winter (given there are 168 hours in a full week), and going for 6 consecutive days with nothing on my feet is no big deal to me. I almost never wear socks - I have socks that are still in good condition from college and I'm 38.

I notice a lot of barefooters talk about work and the grievances of having to don footwear on the job. I've chosen to take the more difficult, but rewarding route of refusing to go back to the 9-5 lifestyle. I am self employed right now and slowly building a prosperous business with the dream of living a barefoot healthy lifestyle. And I believe it can be done even in these economic times. Most of my clients and associates have never even seen me in footwear. I will be happy to share how and will be discussing all the options in my website that I will be launching very shortly www.barefoot-healthy-lifestyle.com.
Enjoy the Barefoot Healthy Lifestyle!

 

All I can say is NICE. I live near NYC and admit in the dead of winter i refuse to go outside, let alone in flips. I so hate winter. But this experiment has been educational. would you say when you started it was psychologically a bit of an effort. Or am i just having a time getting used to things?