Five Stores and a Friends House

Had a really nice day barefooting.  Haven't had too many of those yet.  Went into four new stores, the A Market, Home Depot, Music and Arts, and a thrift store.  Plus revisited my local grocery store. That has got to be a record number of stores in one day, plus my first friends house.

I think the people at Home Depot noticed my bare feet, but I was in and out before they could form an opinion on what to do.  I wasn't sure if they noticed at the A Market, but it is a organic food store so I think they would be more open about barefooted people.  The music store we were in a bit longer and interacted with the employees, checking to see if my daughter had outgrown her viola and we bought rosin.  

After those stores we swung by a friends house who had some clothing for Starry.  Their foster child asked where my shoes were and I told him at home.  A bit later my friend asks if I jogged, not sure if he was referring to my bare feet, I told him I jogged barefoot.  He then asked if I jogged on Commercial Street.  It appears he saw me, but was so busy looking at my feet he didn't notice it was me.

We went to the Thrift Store for an event where they give out clothing and toys to foster kids and they also feed you hot dogs and hamburgers.  When we entered the store they asked what we needed and one of the helpers said looks like he needs shoes, but he said it in a light-hearted nice way.

In My Head
I'm still a uneasy about going into new stores, it takes some of the fun out of being barefoot.  I know some barefooters will not do business with a place that requires them to wear shoes, but a lot of the places I go are very convenient.  We also have the contract for the viola at the music store and would loose what we have invested in the rental program, if they refused barefoot customers.  For some stores I do reduce my visits when they require me to wear shoes.

Kicked Out at Walgreens

A BIT UNSURE AND APPREHENSIVE 
I wasn't sure if I wanted to start the day out barefoot or not.  There was a big JBQ meet at our church and before that was our men's breakfast.  So there would be a lot of people around and half I wouldn't know.  As usual, my shoes were in the van, so I walked out to the van barefoot, still not sure what I would do.  When we arrived at the church I decided to leave my shoes behind and headed inside.

INSIDE WITH A LARGE GROUP BAREFOOT
Breakfast was just being served and some of the kids who had traveled long distances for the final meet of the year had joined the men's breakfast.  So I slipped in unnoticed.  Breakfast went by without any comments.  After breakfast one person commented on my choice of attire, but otherwise no one mentioned my bare feet.

WALMART CLOSE CALL
I had the three year old with us so eventually he got restless so I left the match and headed over to Walmart to purchase Easter items and a few essentials.  It was crowded and I made it to the register without any comments.  The cashier was surprised they let me in barefoot and the lady behind me also commented, both though I should not be walking around barefoot.  I told them I didn't see any sign on the door and that no law forbade me from walking around barefoot.  Glass was brought up during the discussion and they both disapproved, but I was able to finish my purchase.

DIFFERENT TEXTURES
So I made it out of Walmart and we headed to the playground at our church daycare that had a pea gravel surface.  I guess it is better then tracking in sand into the building.  The gravel felt fine on my feet, but after a while I could tell my feet needed a break so we took a short walk around the building on the asphalt.  Then eventually back inside, where the cool smooth floor felt really soothing on my feet.  The only other comment at the church was when we were leaving, one of the visiting teens mentioned my feet would get cold outside, but I told them the pavement felt nice and warm today.

WALGREEN KICKS ME OUT
We arrived home much later then I had anticipated so I would have to postpone my Saturday run till Sunday.  I then headed over to Walgreens I picked up all the items I needed and was waiting to get some photos when I was told I couldn't be inside the store with bare feet.  I told them there was no sign on the door. I asked why and was told it was a health issue.  I told them the state had no law, but they insisted that the store had a policy against bare feet in the store due to health reasons.  I finally left my stuff on the counter and left.  I did return with shoes on to finish my purchase.  I plan to write a letter to the their headquarters to see if I can get the issue resolved in my favor.

CONCLUSION
I guess if you plan on living life barefooted you had better be ready for people to disapprove and to be kicked out of stores.  That night I ordered some xeroshoes - the sandals so that hopefully I can carry them around with me and put them on as needed.  Hopefully the will fit in my pocket when I go inside of stores.

FYI - RESULTS OF JBQ
The foster child's team took first in their division and my daughter took 3rd place quizer in her division, so both kids came away happy.

First Full Day Barefoot & Two Disapprovals

FIRST BAREFOOT DAY

After my first full barefoot day

Today I planned to be barefoot all day.  I dressed in my nice shorts and headed out. The weather was in the 50's, but it felt cooler with the breeze and on the shady patches of the sidewalk. Our first store was our local hardware store where everyone knows us well.  Nothing was said about my feet, but they commented that it was now spring and time for my beard to come off. I told them it was on the agenda for the day.

FIRST ENCOUNTER
The next stop was the grocery store.  I've been in there several times now and nothing has been said.  Today a customer came up and warned me that I better not let them (meaning the store employees) see that I was not wearing shoes.  I told him it was legal.  He doubted me so I assured him that no law existed stopping me from shopping in bare feet.  He was a bit surprised but eventually said he thought it was gross that I would be spreading my athlete foot fungus all over the store.  I was a little taken back by that remark and tried to assure him that athletes foot normally doesn't survive on bare feet, but he turned off down another isle anxious to get away from me.  Perhaps I should have responded that it is a good thing he is wearing shoes.

BARNES & NOBLE
Our next store was Barnes & Noble.  We stopped at the help desk to get my Nook checked out and then headed to the sweets counter where my daughter got a soda and a free cookie.  Then back to the help desk to find a book she wanted, but it was out of my price range this week.  She settle on something more affordable.  We checked out without any mention of my bare feet.

CONCLUSION 
It was a very enjoyable day.  I am getting more relaxed going about barefoot, even with the one encounter I had today.  I actually felt sorry for him.  It was also amazing how many different textures and temperatures your feet cross in a day and the shod never experience it.  Probably the best part was my daughter said something about how she wished she could go barefoot and I told her she could.  She was surprised, but glad I'll let her go barefoot.  She still hasn't taken her shoes off yet, but hopefully she will in the future.

POST SCRIPT 
After I wrote this post I headed out once more to my favorite neighborhood dollar store.  Was shopping when a store employee approached me and mentioned I was not wearing shoes and then told me that I had to have shoes.  He did let me finish shopping, but I cut it to just the one item I needed and then I left.  It put a little damper on my day, but it still was still a good day.