Preying on the Mind

I’ve been going barefoot to a lot of places for a long time, but I find that it still preys on my mind. Society pretty much makes it impossible to forget just how different going barefoot is. Oh, I don’t care what others think. Shoes make my feet hurt. I shattered the cartilage in my knee one time when I was forced to wear footwear, and it still bothers me when I do so. So I don’t.

But that doesn’t mean that I don’t endlessly consider various options before going into some place. The actually barefootedness is freeing — the having to consider its ramifications isn’t.

Yesterday I visited the Ohio History Center of the Ohio Historical Society. This is their main museum in Columbus.

I’ve been a member since 2003, and never had a problem going barefooted there. However, just to make sure, every year before I renew my membership I make a point of visiting. If nothing else it’s a good chance to re-acquaint myself with their older exhibits and to see their newer, special exhibits. But I also don’t want to renew my membership if they have suddenly decided that I am unwelcome in the state that makes me feel most comfortable and that protects my well-being.

Actually, I stretched things a bit above. I did have one incident a few years ago, when a staff person in the gift shop said I needed shoes. At that time I just indignantly said, “no, I never have before”, and she dropped it (oh, if it were always that easy, eh?).

Anyways, today was my visit before a September renewal. And, as always, it preyed on my mind. What should I wear? (No, not whether I should wear shoes, but what should I wear on the rest of me?) Jeans or shorts? Shorts make barefootedness pretty obvious. All that bare leg that is uninterrupted all the way down to the floor is more obvious. Jeans are less obvious. Yes, you are still barefoot if folks look, but the smaller patch of showing skin doesn’t shout out to them. Without a second look, it can often pass the muster of those who might care.

It is really annoying that these things do prey on the mind. In the end, I just allowed myself to be lazy, and wear the shorts I would normally wear this time of year. (But I also have to say I considered the strategic question of, if I really want to test whether to renew my membership, oughtn’t I be as conspicuous as possible? But on the other hand, if I lose, then I can never go there again, for I refuse to put on shoes for such things.)

It was a nice visit, but it was not event-free. I paid $5 extra (the main museum is “free” for members) for their special exhibit, Controversy, and had to pass by a special docent to get in (and show my wrist band). No problem. But when I came out, he saw me again, and then asked (you know what is coming!), “Sir, do you have any shoes with you?” “Nope, I never wear shoes.” He kind of looked at me strangely. And then I asked him a question about the exhibit and he didn’t say anything more.

I headed towards another exhibit and saw him decide to get up. He dashed to find another docent, and I could see him checking with that other guy. I have to admit I chickened out, and quickened my step just a bit to get within the exhibit (and harder to find if they were going to come after me, as they did at the Smithsonian). Again, this stuff preys on one’s mind, and it would be so nice if this sort of stuff just never, never arose.

They never did come after me, and I walked by this guy again, elsewhere, later on, and there wasn’t any further contact, so I guess they all decided that I was just fine. It is still annoying to have it happen, but at least it was a decent outcome, and they will get their renewal. But this story illustrates exactly why this sort of thing preys on the mind — one never knows when an issue will be made of things.

One final note: bare feet are really refreshing for museums. You spend a lot of time just standing around looking at stuff, and that can be hell on feet, particularly shod feet. But when you are barefoot, there are all sorts of subtle shifting of one’s weight that one can do that really relieves that discomfort.

So, museums. Try them barefoot.