There may be a lull in new material here for a while. I’m finding that lately I’m just not feeling like doing the work required to research, organize, and write the posts. So, I’m just not going to worry about not writing for a while.
Do check back occasionally to see if I’ve updated.
In the meantime, feel free to consider this an open thread.
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Everyone needs a break… I go in highs and lows – write,write,write and then nothing. Look forward to hearing when you get back to it –
I think I sustained a pretty high output for over 5 years. One thing I’m noticing is that there are now so many more barefooter outlets, between social media and online discussion groups. To some extent I just don’t see the point in repeating or passing on something else. I always strove to provide information that barefooters didn’t and couldn’t get elsewhere, or to provide a different take on things.
I don’t know if barefooting is getting more popular and more successful, or if all the different media just make it look that way. But it still means that, in order to appear somewhat relevant, I have to work harder (or at least that’s what my inner demon is saying).
The thing is, regular output produces greater readership. A lull threatens that. In the past that sometimes helped me produce anyways, but these days it feels more as if what I might write just won’t help much.
Keep cool and don’t feel stressed. For too many of us, the end of the year is a rush: We have so many things to finish not just bin the old year but before christmas.
To some of us (seasonal barefooters?) it may not be the season until the snow melts and the days get longer in spring. For the second winter I’m trying to adjust myself to the coldness and go barefoot “almost always”, though it’s already too cold on my bicycle, there I need gloves, shoes and a warm hat.
Anyone else around who’s getting used to the cold?
I know there are a lot of barefoot webforums out there. Many of which require that you post an introduction about yourself and participate actively. Even as one who lives barefoot I don’t have much to say about it, so I’m not subscribed to most of these forums. It is a nice experience through the changing seasons, and especially pleasant to see I have absolutely no difficulty now with what seemed to be serious obstacles just a few years ago. But just writing about my daily life (I’ve been to town, it’s a few degrees colder than yesterday, I’ve been to shops x and y and nobody gave me any problems for it) seems kind of repetitious. I feel sorry for those living in countries where a barefoot person is seen as offending.
And still, most of the time in my daily life, I am the only one (unless I actively search other barefoot enthusiasts and meet them).
If it’s below 10°C, I need some insulation against the cold ground when outside for more than a few minutes. Sandals are surprisingly good for this above 0°C. Of course, people will still ask if I’m cold …
I wonder what a long-time barefooter sees still as serious obstacles.
If you are after inspiration, we could all pitch in?
I actually have a backlog of about 5 ideas/situations right now. I just don’t feel like putting them together so that they are more than simple pointers to stuff. So, maybe a bit of a respite is all I need.
(On a related(?) note, I also just got tired of shaving, too. 😉 ]
Your passion is barefoot hiking, but your posts on the Hocking Hills really motivated me to walk more there. Your topo maps are my favorite part of the blog. I, too, have failed at finding Vulture Point on my first try, but I’m not giving up. I’ll just hike in the reverse direction next time.
My next outing will include the Buckeye Trail between Unger Road and 664. I get the rerouting of this section thanks to your recent entry.
My ultimate goal is to follow in your footsteps (not bare) with some bushwhacking in HSF.
Come back soon, because I can’t wait to read about your next adventure in this area.
It’s good you are still inspired! Is there any chance of you doing something in depth on how shoes are ‘sold’ to children? I’ve noticed that even barefoot characters I grew up with are getting rebranded with shoes (Ninja Turtles for one).
A well deserved lull for sure! Take advantage.
I would still contend that going barefoot in winter just has a diminishing return on investment. I need to get stuff done or go on a walk to get some exercise. I don’t have time to worry about cold toes, marginal situations and ice melt chemicals everywhere. Sure, I still step outside barefoot daily, if only for a few steps. If something needs to get done, however, a shoe (or a wool sock) is a tool just like a glove. I’ve found shunning shoes just to prove a point isn’t in my best interest.
Well, I only wear that kind of stuff if it’s snowing. If it isn’t then I still use my feet.
I have always liked your blog for the original research and genuine original thoughts you present. You may be right that the web may seem to be full of barefooting content, but most of it is just reposts and endless reiterations of the same content.
You certainly need a break, Bob. There is enough material here that adding comments to various existing posts could stimulate a years worth of conversation.
Hadashi, you are from the UK, right? If so, are you anywhere near Oxford? I once read a website of someone reminiscing about travel he did during his life. He lived in London, and one day in 1969 his family took a trip to Oxford. What he saw amazed him. So many college students were going barefoot on campus and around town that it looked as if footwear had gone out of style. He saw little of this around London. I bet today’s students and faculty do not even know this ever happened.
You definitely need a break Bob. Even though there are now several barefoot websites, a lot of us come here because you post a lot of fascinating posts. Now that winter is here, many barefooters across the country are probably going to bundle up at home and just watch the snow fall. The only exceptions are barefooters that live in Hawaii, Florida, where I am; California and Texas. The best thing for you to do is relax and enjoy some time off.
Sorry, I don’t live near Oxford, but I do know that where I live it is much harder than it used to be to go barefoot on campus. Ridged health and safety and a culture of allowing one (often imaginary) complaint to ruin things for an entire group of people are the norm. Having said that, a lot do still go barefoot here, just mostly around town.
Enjoy the break. When you come back something that may be worth commenting on is the contradiction of a full-time barefooter (Though they didn’t start this way.) running a ‘shoe-the-shoeless’ charity.
http://www.shoelesskatie.com/p/blog-page.html