I am shy of going barefoot and want to. But once when i did people start staring. When there is nobody in the house i take off my socks but when someone is at the door i always put them on until i know the coast is clear. I don't mind when it comes to going in the swimming pool.
I know it's easy for me to say there's no need to be shy of going bf, but if that is what you want, you will have to get over it. You could start by wearing flip-flops, then when you get used to that, start "forgetting" them in places you feel to be less threatening (where people don't know you!) and progress from there. It's very important not to feel self conscious about it, people will quickly pick up on that. When people ask me why i'm bf i usually say something like "it's less tiring, more comfortable, good for the feet and legs, and a whole lot more fun". I often go on hikes with shod walkers, and they find it quite amusing at first, then after a few miles they are impressed.
I know nothing about you but could it be that you've had an upbringing in which conventional is the only way you've known. For all my alternative lifestyle I too grew up in a rigid environment in County Kerry Ireland, in a small town where everyone knew everybody's business. I was raised as a good Catholic girl and it was only when my family moved to London in 1995 that I started going off the rails,at least that's how some of my family saw it. I guess the thin end of the wedge was when I got my nose pierced at 15,the shit hit the fan as far as my dad was concerned.I don't think it was allowed at school either but that was undermined by a bohemian English teacher I had who also had her nose done. In fact she was one of the few teachers I connected with and is possibly one of the earliest influences on me and the direction my life took,especially as she was into the barefoot thing herself. OK she wore flip-flops or those toe-loop type sandals into class, but kicked them off at the earliest opportunity and walked round the classroom barefoot. She was also a pillar of support when I got pregnant and we remain friends to this day. Sorry I'm digressing a bit but she gave me the confidence to do my own thing and develop a 'fuck you' attitude towards anyone who disapproved of my lifestyle. You should do the same.
you have received excellent advice from bfjohn and irishbohemian. take their advice and free your soles. good luck in your journey to adopting to a barefoot lifestyle.
What you have to remember is that not everyone has the same standards of what's normal/acceptable. The standards by which you're living at the moment are not everyone's. Sure some people will think it's odd, but that category people only has to include YOU if you want it too. Ultimately you're going to carry on wearing shoes as long as you feel comfortable with the idea. Most people do. But if you really want to go barefoot, it'll nag at you and nag at you until it forces you to try it for the sake of your own sanity. You'll get to the point where you'd rather be stared at than have to wear shoes all the time and eventually you'll not even notice that you're being stared at. Also, you seem to be talking about your own house here. LOTS of people go barefoot in their own houses. Some people even insist on it with their visitors so you've definitely got nothing to worry about that.
