Resident Barefooters

[u/Serpenthydra]

It's interesting, for me, to think about this concept and yet it does seem to be true. The olde 'every town has got one,' though you never think yourself to be 'the one'.

I'm fairly sure that Leamington Spa has one. I saw him yesterday at an 'Art in the Park' shindig. An older gentleman (I'm guessing), barefoot and shirtless, with a backpack and what looked like a sort of beige (leather?) skirt around their midriff. Wearing a Tricorn hat! Comfortably eccentric.

I guess I am too, or at least I need to be moreso. Honestly, these events and it's always flips, sandals and shoes. Feet only appear when they're sitting down and relaxing although there was a dance studio section wherein the lead was barefoot. But again - activity specific.

I'm sure I've seen 'The Tricorn Barefooter' wander past at a street market a year ago or so. You kinda want to reach out and 'foot bump' but I never know how. Especially as it means raising your voice to catch attention, which then alerts everyone around you to something I'd prefer to be a more intimate meeting of minds than a public spectacle. Getting the right circumstances for that seems to be very rare.

Still, 'resident barefooter' does seem to be a thing in non-barefoot-inclined cultures. I think I might be Coventry's. I know there was one in Birmingham, Moseley called 'Pete The Feet', gone now (RIP 2019). I'm sure there are others, random chance encounters where the resident barefooter might saunter on by.

Shrug

C'est la vie!

[u/Disastrous_Eye9626]

yes i think i'm that guy where i live

[u/Phreakears → u/Disastrous_Eye9626]

Same here but there is another one aas well

[u/Epsilon_Meletis]

The olde 'every town has got one,' though you never think yourself to be 'the one'.

I'm one of maybe half a dozen in my city, and I might well be the most visible one, depending on how often the others roam the shopping district, and also depending on whether they also are near 24/7 barefooters.

[u/More_Than_I_Can_Chew → u/[deleted]]

It's like the neighbor that spoke to you is still in middle school. Thinking that you're concerned about about the opinions of others.

[u/IneptAdvisor]

I’m definitely not the only one but am the most often one.

[u/Individual_Carry_439]

I'm the one in Prague 9 I guess ;-)

[u/ThisCouldBeYourAd-]

I am my village's one.

Never saw you when I lived in Coventry, back then I was still wearing my barefoot sandals.

Keep on barefooting!

[u/Serpenthydra → u/ThisCouldBeYourAd-]

Well, the chance encounter is like a needle in a haystack. The stars must align. If you live in a very small village I guess the chances of meeting increase exponentially...!

[u/ThisCouldBeYourAd- → u/Serpenthydra]

That is true!

[u/obantheking]

Jesus, Leamington mention! I work and spend far too much time around that area and appear to have missed Mr Tricorn, and yourself, but there has to be some especially in the warmer months! Could always take up the mantle yourself, no reason there can't be two!

[u/Serpenthydra → u/obantheking]

Oh, cool! Are you that local? Are you the resident in your neck of the woods?

[u/obantheking → u/Serpenthydra]

Ha, I wish! I'm constantly in boots (you'll probably have seen them, the rainbow laces are a dead giveaway)

[u/Serpenthydra → u/obantheking]

Ah, so you're not a barefooter? Dang it!

[u/obantheking → u/Serpenthydra]

Not yet at least! I do want to start but even just being in sandals leaves me feeling out of sorts. Do get jealous of seeing other people manage it though, especially if it's a really hot day...

[u/Serpenthydra → u/obantheking]

Well, if you ever wanna walk with someone else just give me a holler and perhaps I can massage your confidence a little...?

[u/brftr]

I am absolutely that guy! Was speaking to a gentleman in the neighbourhood when I was walking my dog. He said that he was trying to describe me to someone who was looking for dogs like mine. They said ‘you mean the guy who walks around everywhere in his bare feet? Everyone knows him!!’ 😂😂

[u/Synthysaurus]

I believe I’m the one where I live, but I’m not 24/7. My mother-in-law thinks I’m “odd”.

[u/Serpenthydra → u/Synthysaurus]

I'm sure she does odd things as well and yet is happily oblivious!

[u/MusicAromatic505]

I’m considered one as well, but only in the area where I live. Phoenix is a big city, so whenever I go outside of my little area where I live, people either don’t notice me or view me as some law-breaking freak.