barefoot friendly states.........
barefootjason
states overall are Florida and California.
Have never had a hassle in either state going barefoot into stores.
Can't say the same for my native state Michigan.
Have yet to see anyone else barefoot in the retail outlets here. I
feel like the last of the bohemians.
Any fellow barefooters in the Metro Detroit area want to hook up for
barefoot walks and talks?
And how say the rest of you...how does your home state treat the
barefoot elite?
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Barefot
>barefoot elite?
>
I grew up in South Florida (Hollywood) which was very barefoot friendly at the
time. I have seen some post that lead me to believe that it may have changed
to some degree. I now live in Texas (Galveston) near the beach and it is very
barefoot friendly. In general the State is barefoot friendly based on my
various travels. I have only encountered a few places where the barefooter is
not welcome. This is not common and I just avoid these places.
Barefooted in Texas
Bob
Rick Kennedy
Mac
have yet seen any other people barefoot in retail stores here. Oh well...
maybe a few people who see me will be inspired to try it themselves...
(barefoot) Bryan in Windsor
barefootjason <barefo...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7kq00a$usf$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
>In my travels throughout the years, it seems the most barefoot friendly
>states overall are Florida and California.
>
>Have never had a hassle in either state going barefoot into stores.
>
>Can't say the same for my native state Michigan.
>
>Have yet to see anyone else barefoot in the retail outlets here. I
>feel like the last of the bohemians.
>
>Any fellow barefooters in the Metro Detroit area want to hook up for
>barefoot walks and talks?
>
>And how say the rest of you...how does your home state treat the
>barefoot elite?
>
>
David
(Barefot) wrote:
> >And how say the rest of you...how does your home state treat the
> >barefoot elite?
> >
>
> I grew up in South Florida (Hollywood) which was very barefoot friendly at the
> time. I have seen some post that lead me to believe that it may have changed
> to some degree. I now live in Texas (Galveston) near the beach and it is very
> barefoot friendly. In general the State is barefoot friendly based on my
> various travels. I have only encountered a few places where the barefooter is
> not welcome. This is not common and I just avoid these places.
>
> Barefooted in Texas
> Bob
I agree. I've been in Houston a year now, and had opportunity to go
barefooted somewhere (sometimes only once or twice) every month of this
year. Glances and doubletakes are all I've ever encountered, besides a
couple of kids laughing in a KFC, an overheard comment in a Target - both
customers, never from a store employee.
In fact, it's almost eerie - I have yet to have a single comment, positive
or negative, sent my way. Maybe this means I'm just not pushing the
envelope. Haven't tried any of the malls or movie theatres yet.
My general impression - not my personal experience - is that the closer to
the coast, and the farther south, the more prevalent and less incredible
it gets.
Alabama seemed perfectly indifferent. Depending on who is asking, they
will think you are either a) a hippie or b) a redneck, whichever they
happen not to be. :-) There seem to be slightly fewer barefooters than in
Texas.
In New York City, beyond Central Park and Coney Island, there was never
anywhere I personally felt was worth it, although probably no one would
say much except as a dress code issue in restaurants, etc. I saw perhaps
4 barefoot people in 2 years there, 2 of whom were clearly homeless,
excepting people laying out in Central Park or on the beach.
I've always been curious as to the barefoot-indifference of Oregon, BC,
that entire region. Also whether northern or southern California is
better.
David Z
Houston, TX
Unshod1
barefoot friendly
>states overall are Florida and California.
>
>Have never had a hassle in either state going barefoot into stores.
Hawaii is also barefoot friendly, more so that California. As for never being
hassled
in stores in California, Jason must have never been to Wal-Mart, K-Mart, or
Borders. They are very unfriendly to barefooters, which is why I refuse to
spend any money in any of those places.
Lost Still
count one over zealous new greeter at our local WalMart since both Chris and I
did get in even though we were barefoot. I've also had no problems whatsoever
with Borders here.
There are more and more shoes/sandals/flip flops now than I can ever recall,
but that's the way it goes. "These times, they are a-changin".
But hassled? Nope. Turned away? Yes. But then again, it's up to the owner
of the store to make the policies (it's his hard work and money that's gone
into it so it's his right to make the rules and see that they're enforced) and
it's my right to go in or not depending on if I want to put something on my
feet or not.
~~~Keo~~~
joem.
(snip)
> I've always been curious as to the barefoot-indifference of Oregon
>
> David Z
> Houston, TX
>
I used to live in Oregon. Perhaps with the exception of the greater
Portland area, the philosophy of the state seems to be to let everybody do
whatever they want. Its a very individualistic state.
Barefot
>There are more and more shoes/sandals/flip flops now than I can ever recall,
>but that's the way it goes.
I have noticed the same thing in Texas, I see less and less barefooters
everyday. I use to go to the Super Wal Mart in Galveston (near the beach) and
see several barefooters, now I am lucky if there is one other person in the
store barefooted besides me. They are still very barefoot freindly so it
really doesn't matter to me if I am the only one.
Barefooted in Texas
Bob
Lear548113
school age females wore shoes in the summer. Now its strictly something you do
at home (but I think I see more of it in homes than i did before.)
Reed Ibrahim
city, I usually don't get too many comments while barefoot. The only time that I
have been hassled (and it was done very politely) was at a local Jewel/Osco (no
nsns signs) where another customer complained to the manager. The manager was
almost apologetic. I have noticed that the manager usually avoids me when I walk
in now. I always went in barefoot prior to that, but usually don't any more.
I have been frequenting my local library either barefoot in the summer or taking my
shoes off in the winter for a couple of years now. I do get some strange looks
occasionally but have never had a library employee coment, even though there are
very prominant nsns signs at both doors. Has any one else had any experiences in
libraries? Seems like a real logical place to be barefoot. I also have been in
every video store around me without any problems.
I don't think that there are any other places in Chicago that I would try. I did
try one restaurant once, but was refused entry gruffly. I just went and put shoes
on. This was a few years ago. For some reason I have never tried to go into a
bookstore barefoot, it always seemed like they would have a problem with it,
although I am not sure why. Does anyone have any experience with book stores,
either in Chicago or else where? I would love to patronize one that would be
friendly.
I went to college in Florida, and was almost always barefoot. This was in the
early 80's and never had even as much as a second glance. I was just down there
this last April, and went into a couple of restaurants (near the beach) barefoot
without a problem. I was in a Kmart further inland without any hassles. I also
spent 4 days in Key West barefoot without a question. I expected to get hassled
going into bars, but was very happy when no one said anything.
I have been in restaurants in Orange count CA, altough I think they were all
outside, and definitely near the beach. I think I was also in a drug store in San
Diego once.
So although I would say that my experiences lead me to say that Fl and Ca are more
friendly, I might be a bit biased because I am more comfortable in those places and
actually go out barefoot. I have been in almost every state in the country, but
have never tried anywhere else.
Unshod1
recall,
>but that's the way it goes. "These times, they are a-changin".
The fact that the above is happening in Hawaii is cause for concern. I noticed
the same thing during my visit there. I went places there barefoot with no
problems that had I gone to the same kind of places in CA I for sure would be
hassled. Even in the northern part of the island, away from Honolulu, I saw
few barefooters. I saw young girls wearing what I call platform sandals and
guys wearing athletic shoes.
The thing that was so surprising to me was that Hawaii is a place where there
aren't near as many problems going barefoot as there are in CA, and the
residents, for the most part, don't avail themselves of this freedom. We all
know what happens to freedoms that we don't use. We lose them. From what I
saw, if stores, restaurants and other businesses in Hawaii started throwing up
nsnsns signs, no many people would be protesting. That's not good. When I saw
all the shoes being worn especially by young adults, that shows me that the
long arm of Madison Ave (advertising) has made a real impact on Hawaii.
Hopefully, some kind of grass roots movement will emerge and people will use
and protect their freedom from shoes before it's too late.
Bf at 58
>bookstore barefoot, it always seemed like they would have a problem with
>it,
>although I am not sure why. Does anyone have any experience with book stores,
>either in Chicago or else where?
Yes - last night I stopped at a "Books & Things" with no hassle even when I
talked to the employee stocking the shelves! Tonight I stopped at a drug store
for a pill refill - went in past the nsnsns signs and waited for about 10
minutes - no hassles!
Also stopped for batteries at Radio Shack - no hassles there either from the
clerk. So this lifestyle isn't as hard to live with as I thought. Good luck to
you!
0 0
0 ( ) 0 my cat goes barefoot too! - bf at 58
(.....)
Unshod1
have never tried to go into a
>>bookstore barefoot, it always seemed like they would have a problem with
>>it,
>>although I am not sure why. Does anyone have any experience with book
>stores,
>>either in Chicago or else where?
I have been to two Barnes & Noble stores here in Southern California with no
problems. I wnated to see if they were jerks like Borders, so I had a
conversation with a store employee and also made sure that a manager saw me. I
spoke to him as he passed me in one of the asiles and he spoke back, not
mentioning anything about
my bare feet. I was wearing shorts, so there was no doubt as to whether or not
I was barefoot.
Cousin Ricky
<barefo...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Have yet to see anyone else barefoot in the retail outlets here. I
>feel like the last of the bohemians.
EXTREMELY rare, wherever i've been. But not unheard of.
>And how say the rest of you...how does your home state treat the
>barefoot elite?
I have one home territory and 2 adopted home states. I born and raised
in St. Thomas, with a few years in north Florida. I've spent most of my
adulthood in metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts. It's actually tough
for me to tell how barefoot tolerant these places are, because i haven't
challenged the norms, except in a very limited way in St. Thomas. (It
never occured to me that one could go barefoot until i found ALB. That
was *after* i had moved back to St. Thomas.) Thus the only evidence i
have to go on is how many people actually go barefoot.
This "evidence," of course, isn't the most reliable. For example, what
i've read here indicates that Europe is more barefoot tolerant than the
USA, yet the USA has more barefooters. With that caveat in mind...
NORTH FLORIDA
Florida appears to be the most barefoot tolerant of the three. It's the
ONLY place i've seen children barefoot in school or at a summer program,
although the children in school were soon "corrected" by the teachers.
Other neighborhood children often visited us barefoot. My supervisor at
my after-school job was barefoot more than anybody else i had seen up to
that time, and some of the other kids working for him occasionally
worked barefoot.
ST. THOMAS
Growing up here, i sometimes saw children playing barefoot in their
yards. The only other place i saw barefoot children was at the beach.
With the *possible* exception of the Montessori (i don't know
Montessori's policies), it was not and is not possible to go to school
barefoot in St. Thomas. At least not without being suspended, anyway.
I see today that little has changed, except that there are a heck of a
lot more sandals at the beach. On the other hand, i often see people,
usually women, slipping off their s#%&s while they're at a desk, behind
a cash register, in church, or just relaxing on a park bench.
Ironically, with the exception of my father, it is *only* women who have
taken me to task for being barefoot or in my stocking feet. It seems
that it's OK to be barefoot, as long as your feet don't move more than
about 2 inches from the s#%&s. What few barefooters live here are
almost always men.
METROPOLITAN BOSTON
Very few people went barefoot there. Those that did were almost always
Latino children. An exception was certain summer occasions, such as the
4th of July concert on the Esplanade. (Look for it on PBS this
weekend.)
Barefoot adults are extremely rare in all three places. Florida probably
has the most, followed by St. Thomas, and lastly, Massachusetts.
However, at picnics and other outdoor gatherings, the order changes:
lots of people kick off their s#%&s in MA (they don't arrive barefoot),
but damn near nobody does in St. Thomas, unless they remain sitting in
on the picnic towel.
I cannot compare NSNSNS signs, because before the DSS website gave me
the heads up, i just *assumed* that all stores had the sign, and i never
checked! Thus, i only have a feel for St. Thomas, and haven't had the
opportunity to compare it to other places. What i see in St. Thomas is
that the signs are uncommon, but increasing. I've seen several go up in
the past 2 years; i haven't seen any come down.
___________________________________
In addition to the 3 places i've lived, i have visited many places.
Places of significance are northern Virginia, (West) Germany, Haiti, New
Hampshire, metropolitan New York City, Puerto Rico, and Bolivia. Even
though i only spent a couple of days there, Antigua and Wisconsin must
rate special mention, because the visits were *after* i discovered ALB.
- Northern Virginia - I once spent a summer there, and still visit
there often. I think i recall some barefoot people at a county
fair, but otherwise, i've only seen them barefoot on the picnic
towels.
- Heidelberg, Germany - I also spent a summer there, but i stayed
in American military housing, with an overprotective cousin, so i
didn't really get a feel for the country. For the record, i saw NO
barefooters all summer. (The judo class and the apartment don't
count.)
- Haiti - BY FAR, this place has more barefoot people than any place
else i've been. Unfortunately, it's not by choice. I can't even
give the place a barefoot friendly mark; once, when a companion and
i strayed off the beach a little, a man started ranting and raving
at us. According to my companion, who understood the language, he
was yelling at us about our bare feet. Of course, he was only one
person, but i was never barefoot at any other time during the trip.
- New Hampshire, New York, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico, Bolivia, and
Antigua produced no significant numbers of bare feet.
We barefooters appear to be a very lonely group.
I did visit southern California once, but it was all sterile business
trip with tie. No chance to actually experience southern California.
_______________________________________________________________________
Mostly off-topic, but related:
When i first went to high school in Florida, i was struck by the number
of boys who wore flip-flops. I guess this was my first inkling that
s#%& habits were different from place to place (excepting those
anonymous countries in those charity sponsorship TV commercials, where
the disheveled haired children tugging at our heartstrings were
destitute and always (gasp!) barefoot). In St. Thomas, only girls and
women wore footwear which left any part of the foot uncovered. Or at
least, that was my *impression*. As the ALB regulars know, my father's
*simple* directive never to step outside barefoot spawned a whole lot of
blinders, neuroses, and cognitive distortions on my part. However, what
i'm sure of is that you were much more likely to see a boy's foot in
Florida than in St. Thomas. Or in Boston.
Then something started happening in the early 1990s. (I was living in
suburban Boston by this time.) More and more men started wearing
sandals. Much to my bewilderment, the boys soon followed, even a few of
the sneaker-concious inner-city black boys. By 1994, when i made a
marathon trip down the east coast from Boston to Miami, the sandaled and
slippered little boys were coming at me from all directions at every
rest stop. They continued coming at me after i got back to Boston.
(Bewilderment? Sure, i was bewildered. After all, having your feet
exposed was embarrassing, and to peer-concious schoolboys, wearing
sandals was *certain* to get a boy teased and/or beat up. So why would
a boy ever risk wearing sandals? Well, the reason is obvious: the 3rd
sentence of this paragraph is complete bullshit. But, that is where i
was at, at the time.)
If 1994 was bewildering, then 1996 was a shock. That was when i moved
back to St. Thomas. During their free time, approximately half the boys
here are wearing sandals, slippers, or flip-flops. They are the new,
fashionable, expensive ones made by Nike and Fila, of course, but they
are sandals and slippers nonetheless. A lot of the men are wearing the
same types of footwear, although most couldn't care less about brand
names.
My mindset tells me that males are becoming more open to having their
feet seen in public. But my mindset is wrong. One thing has remained
constant through all these changes in fashion: NOBODY IS BAREFOOT. The
"feet seen in public" thing is just a projection of my own feelings, and
not reflective of reality. The changes in fashion are just that:
fashion. You need s#%&s to have a fashion.
--
@->-`-,-------------------------------------------------------+
| Cousin Ricky USDA zone 11, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| (Richard Callwood III) previously zone 6, Massachusetts |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
barefootjason
such used to be when I was growing up in the 70's.
Around East Lansing (the area of my youth), the only signs I ever saw
were on the local Yankee/Zody discount department stores. The sign
simply said "Barefooters travel at your own risk."
Simple, basic, and realistic.
My past travels have also shown Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina
as states the are hip to barefeet.
wleje...@yahoo.com
someone
Now the signs include masks
or face-covers for service. Some establishments
are no-mask friendly. It could be called a state of mind.
Riding around yesterday in a car with friends,
two of them were wearing masks and I was not.
At first I felt odd until a thought about how they
were also wearing shoes occurred to me.
If other people who wear shoes is normal
and barefooters are prohibited or shunned or
discriminated against, for masks to be somewhat
the same as well as different may suggest a thing.
- thanks!