Where did you go barefoot today?

Yesterday, a mild spell (17° C/about 63 F) made it very easy
for me to spend a barefoot day, both at work (having to supervise
our telesales team) and afterwards, for a quick stroll through
the city center and then back home. And it was just upon entering
the apartment house where I live, when I stepped barefoot into an
absurd dialogue...

On entering the entrance hall, there was a typical normal person,
40-ish male, entering as well and after checking my mailbox for
possibly important snail mail (or the odd multi-colored advertising
junk bulk mail, which can be disposed of in a waste paper basket
conveniently mounted next to the mailboxes) I went to the elevator
and pushed the call button. Just then, as I was waiting for the
cabin to move down to the basement, that man leaned over and waved
to make his intent for a conversation clear.
I removed my MP3 player's earplugs from my ears, and the following
conversation commenced:

Him: "Don't you need a pair of shoes?"
Me (in a cheerful tone): "No, by no means!"
Him: "Well, I think you do!"
Me: "And I think it's healthier to walk barefoot..."
Him: "Healthier for whom...?"
Me (now slightly puzzled): "Well, it's healthier for me."
Him: "But is it also healthier for everyone else? Think about it"
(Exit, walking upstairs).

I sort of obliged, giving his utterance thought for as long as it
took the elevator to take me up to third floor, where I live,
and reached this result: what an absurdly funny person.

How unhealthy for everyone else can it be to walk barefoot?
Is there some possibly lethal radiation emanating from bare
feet that can be contained by shoes?
Or are naked feet able to ooze some strong acid, as the Aliens
made famous by Ridley Scott do - and are shoes protecting the
floor against it?
Do bare feet spread some unknown or dangerous viruses - or do
they more than the unwashed hands of those people who touch any
doorknob, handrail or the poles mounted in buses and subway trains
without giving any thought to who might have touched it before,
and whatever clinged to his or her hands?
And are shoes just the sterile protective measure against it?
Or are feet the source of biological or chemical combat agents
which are released freely into the world?
Well, we know, that shoes are anything but sterile and that
stinky feet originate from wearing shoes (with or without socks).

Or - which I presume to be true in this busybody's case - is it that
the sight of free and happy bare feet (in my case amplified by an
anklet, several toe rings and one toe nail painted glossy purple)
endanger the mental health of collective normality?

For sure, this encounter, as absurd as it was, will certainly not
bar me from baring my happy feet to the world (happy, since they
are bare!) and won't keep me from answering questions by people
who genuinely are interested in the reasons for me walking barefoot
(and perhaps even providing a little enlightenment).

Wiggling happy, free and bare toes,

~*Ganesha*~

 

I'm sure that your bare feet caused him a great deal of distress likely leading to a total mental breakdown. So yes, it was bad for his fragile state of mental health

 

I feel more conspicuous being barefoot in public when it's cooler. Nonetheless, if it's warm enough for me to leave the house without shoes, I'll follow through on my errands. That's one reason I don't take flip-flops, etc. with me - I put myself in a situation where I have to either follow through or go home. Oddly, it's the times I most expect to catch flack that I have no issues. On the other hand, when I get real comfortable going barefoot certain places is when I get busted. Oh well.

One thing I don't like about going barefoot when it's cooler is that I'm not as comfortable wearing shorts. Somehow I've always associated bare feet with warm weather and shorts, so I often don't go barefoot if I'm wearing jeans (although I know some people really like the jeans and bare feet look, it's just not my preference). That's not always the case though. This past week I was in the southern U.S. After a meeting, I changed into my comfy travel clothes (sweatshirt, jeans) and decided to stay barefoot. I had a few hours before my flight, so I was killing time. I stopped in a Subway for lunch barefoot, got gas for my rental, and returned the car.

FYI - I've found Subways to be 1) one of the healthier places to eat, and 2) barefoot friendly. I've eaten in many Subways while barefoot and never had a problem.

 

Yeah, it's like gthe colder it gets it feels like you're more obvious and people will notice it more....dunno why that matters but thats my feeling...

 

I'm the same way. I associate being barefoot with warm weather and therefore wearing shorts instead of long pants/jeans. It's very rare for me to wear long pants while barefoot. In that case, I would either wear regular shoes or flip-flops.

I've found that to be my experience as well.

 

I concur with you both. I can't wear jeans and go barefoot. feels weird. I always wear basketball shorts or or khaki shorts. But I will only wear baggier shorts that go to my knee or past. anything shorter I'd personally feel too bare lol.

 

today I went barefoot to lay salt on my front walk. The ice buildup was crazy and it was freezing and my toes were numb, but I was being lazy and didn't feel like putting on my shoes.

It sure woke me up though.

 

I never wear jeans, as I find them too heavy and coarse compared to other types of cotton pants. That said, I always go barefoot, even when wearing formal clothes to black-tie events.

I'm with you on subway, however; the only fast-food joint I ever patronize.

 

I'm going to have to try subway. I can see them being barefoot friendly. I've been into mcd's barefoot, and I think hardees. I have only seen one other barefooter in a fast food place and that was hardees. I did redeem myself today and shop the DG that I chickened out at. I also went to a gas station. The weather report does not look to good though for the rest of the season.

 

Didn't today, it is freezing and raining and downright abysmal.

 

For the most part I try to avoid fast food - hard for weight control. Subway probably has the most healthy choices though. That's not to say I never go to a fast food place. I've been barefoot to Subway, Burger King, McDonald's, Wendy's, Arby's, Smiling Moose Deli, Jersey Mike's Subs, Chipotle, Big City Burritos, Long John Silvers, KFC, Qdoba, and probably some others and have never received a negative comment.

 

In addition, no problemsat Starbucks, Panda Express, Sbarro, Popeyes, Boston Market, Einstein Bagels and Dunkin Donuts. Maybe we are making progress!

 

Be careful that you don't get frostbite!

 

Out here in California, Hardee's is Carl's Jr. I wrote in another thread that I was barefoot in my local Carl's Jr. restaurant one day, and there happened to be a group of 3 teenage guys in there as well. One of them had a skateboard and he was barefoot, too. The manager on duty didn't pay attention to the fact there were 2 barefoot customers---as long as we bought something.

 

i walked around my block to my local coffee shop and had a cup and purchased a newspaper. it was a little chilly for my southern ass this morning temps in the mid 40's. i know i am a wussy, lol.

 

I was hoping to get at least one barefoot outing in December so I'd have at least one every month in 2009. It's been too friggin' cold in Colorado for me to think about "exposing the toes." Wednesday, I went went to Houston for a quick overnighter for work. It was chilly in Denver, so I wore my Vibram Fivefingers. When I got to Houston, it still wasn't toasty (low 50s?), but I took off my Vibrams at the car rental lot and drove barefoot to the hotel. It felt soooo good to have my feet unencumbered. When I got to the Marriott, the temperature had dropped into the 40s, but I grabbed my suitcase and walked barefoot into the lobby to register and went to my room. Later I walked barefoot through the lobby on my way out to dinner and was barefoot in the lobby later that evening when I came down to print my boarding pass. I guess all that qualifies a a public barefoot outing!! That brings my total for the year to 429 different public places I've gone barefoot without an incident. This also gives me at least one outing every month. I'm hoping for several more in December, but the weather doesn't seem to be cooperating. I prefer it a bit warmer (at least 50-60 deg F), but sometimes you've gotta make do with the cards you're dealt!

FYI - I wore my Vibram Fivefingers for the flight from Houston back to Denver. When we arrived in Denver, the temperature was 4 deg F (-16 deg C). I was standing in the jetway waiting for the gate-checked luggage to arrive. The coldness of the metal jetway floor was penetrating the thin soles of my Vibrams and was quite uncomfortable. As soon as I got into the terminal I changed into my socks and sneakers. Sorry, cold weather and exposed flesh don't work for me. The overnight low that night was -2 deg F (-19 deg C). It's gonna be hit-and-miss for a few months (March??) before I can start going barefoot with any regularity.

 

Starting on a somewhat chilly rainy morning (between 3-4°C/38F), I went barefoot to spend a few hours at the office yesterday - watching over a small group of telesales agents - occasionally wearing flip-flops in the office (as our CEO was there, as well), when standing up from my desk. After that short stay in the office (3 hours), I went by bus to the town center, picking up some Nag Champa incense (if there's anything smelling sweetly of hippie, it's this stuff! ) at a head shop and getting some praise and admiration from the shop owner. By mid-day, the rain had ceased and the temperature was up to 7°C/44F, making it a little less chilly for my pink-glowing nude toes.

So far, there is a mild spell at work over here, so that I can still safely be barefoot. I am looking forward to tomorrow's way to work, way to the supermarket and grocery shopping after work in my bare feet, since the weather forecast tells me things about cloudy skies and temperatures around 10°C/50F.

Wiggling happy toes in mild weather,

~*Ganesha*~

 

Went for a good walk this afternoon - was just nicely chilly! See my pics if you want:

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/album.php?albumid=4982

 

Well Since I Am A Fulltime Barefooter, It Seems Pointless Posting Every

Day Here, I Would Fill Up The Thread In No Time...

But I Do Want To Say, That Over The Past Fortnight I Have Had A Lot

Of Contact With Lawyers, Financial Advisers, And Accountants In This

Town That I Have Never Met Before.

I Did At One Stage Wonder To Myself Wether I Should Put On Shoes For

One Very Important Meeting, Then Decided That This Was Me, And If

Someone Was To Judge Me On Appearance, Then Perhaps They Were

Not The Right Person To Handle My Business.

Suprise...Suprise...The Very Man I Was Nervous About, Complemented

Me On My Toe Rings, And Said He Had Seen Me Many Times Around

The Town Barefoot In Mid Winter.

I Nearly Fell Over...

But It Put A Big Smile On My Face For The Rest Of The Day....


Keep Em Bare...



Cheers Glen.

 

Yup

If I wore shoes, I'd likely lose 50% of my new business, as that's how folks who don't know me are told to recognize me.

Barefoot Businessmen©®™ at your service