I've been lurking on this forum for a while and am amazed and I suppose shocked at the difficulties some have being barefoot in public or with family/friends. I really did'nt know it was like that for some until I started reading this forum. I live in Cornwall UK, I'm from a Romany background and would describe myself as a sterio-typical hippy. As I grew up many of my friends would spend time barefoot either at home or out. Even at school being so close to the beach we would often be on the beach in the morning surfing and go to class barefoot without any problems. I suppose now at 33yrs old I have spent the best part of 10yrs permanently barefoot. I have never had any problems; but I suspect that is because I have always lived and associated myself with the surf or hippy culture. I have friends that spend a lot of time barefoot and even those that don't make no comment except for the occasional 'are you cold' in winter. This is an eye opener for me and I am stunned at the simple minded people that think someone is weird because they don't wear shoes rather than just except it as a choice. I send all here my best wishes and continue to read everyones experiences with interest. Kindest regards Matt
We here in the US wish to move to the UK because nobody here in the US likes to see people going barefoot. We're repressed, supressed, and depressed. From all that I've ever heard and read, barefooting is tolerated, enjoyed, welcomed, embraced in Europe and many other contries --- gee, just like universal health coverage....wait.....hello? hello? I'd like to book passage to New Zealand, please. When is the next flight?.......
my neices and nephews go barefoot all the time--even in the summer--i live in the desert and the ground gets hot-really hot----ive felt there feet and they feel like leather----the rocks and stickers from tumble weeds dont bother them---when its really hot they have to move from shadow to shadow--oh occasionally i still see the sign--"no shoes no shirt no service" were an uptight nation
at least in the desert you won't get nagged by perfect strangers about your own business, right ? or you can shoot the stranger and feed him to vultures and coyotes, lol.
Hey kernow10, we are often shocked and amazed at the small minds sharing our side of the pond. Remember all those pesky folk you invited to find another place to live 400 years ago? Many of their ideals remain. It is often easier to NOT think about things. We have a lot going for us, but open minds are not always prevalent.
Not my people dude..some were in this country making a living in the circus or weird side shows - most were still living deeper into Europe (I'm a Romany Gypsy)...but thats another story It seems that from talking with people from the States that the further South you go the less of an issue barefeet becomes. This may not be true but its the feeling I get.
Hi Kernow, is this your trailer in the signature pic? Seems you are a traveller? Reminds me to Christy Moore's song ... Wagon, tent or trailer born, last month, last year or in far off days. you probably know Just wanted to share my spontanous thought. Unimpartant, actually.
Don't recall the song but yeah I'm a traveller - been on and off the road. Now I have my own plot of land where I live. The trailer is where I sleep/live; I have a couple of sheds and a small holding on it. From these I work and also sell some of my veg/produce to the public passing by.
I guess there are some good versions of the song on youtube. Maybe you can have a look if you search for "go move shift". I'm in the office now, so i can't ... Go Move Shift (The Moving On Song) by Ewan McColl performed by Christy Moore Am Born in the middle of the afternoon D G Am In a horsedrawn carriage on the old A5 Am The big twelve wheeler shook my bed, D Am D Em "You can't stay here" the policeman said. CHORUS Am G D Em You'd better get born in some place else. Am Em Am Em So move along, get along, Move along, get along, F G Am Go! Move! Shift! Born in the common by a building site Where the ground was rutted by the trail of wheels The local Christian said to me, "You'll lower the price of property." CHORUS Born at potato picking time In a noble tent in a tatie field. The farmer said, "The work's all done It's time that you was moving on." CHORUS Born at the back of a hawthorn hedge Where the black hole frost lay on the ground. No eastern kings came bearing gifts. Instead the order came to shift. CHORUS The eastern sky was full of stars And one shone brighter than the rest The wise men came so stern and strict And brought the orders to evict CHORUS Wagon, tent or trailer born, Last month, last year or in far off days. Born here or a thousand miles away Thereās always men nearby who'll say CHORUS Six in the morning out in Inchicore The guards came through the wagon door. John Maughan was arrested in the cold A travelling boy just ten years old. CHORUS Mary Joyce was living at the side of the road No halting place and no fixed abode. The vigilantes came to the Darndale site And they shot her son in the middle of the night.
i to did not realize that so many people had such hang up over going barefoot...i live here in the mountains of virginia and come warm weather going barefoot is as natural as breathing...you can go just about anywhere here in this small farming region and find people of all ages both male and female sporting bare feet...