I’m currently away in Freiburg again on weekend two of the permaculture course, and hopefully taking pictures of real bicycle infrastructure. So here’s a random thought for this week.
Whenever I’m inside, I prefer to be barefoot, unless it is really freaking cold. Sounds weird, I know, but there you are.
People who are familiar with our tree hugging, car free lifestyle probably think that I’m being ‘in touch with the earth’ or something, but it’s simply that for some odd reason, I find wearing socks or shoes indoors leads to all kinds of moisture-related discomfort. When I’m barefoot, my feet stay dry and gradually warm up of their own accord, so I have toasty feet all day.
It’s probably just me that finds this.
People react in different ways, but the most common is “You’ll catch a cold”. I very, very rarely catch a cold. I used to spend the entire winter sniffing and coughing, and inhaling over hot salty water, but since I started cycling daily I find that I can be surrounded by sneezing people with not a snuffle.
So there. Another advantage to a car -free lifestyle. Of course it’s debatable if this is because the exercise helps my immune system or if I just freeze the germs to death every winter morning.
I’ve learned sufficient ‘civilisation survival skills’ that I no longer get annoyed that it’s socially acceptable to tell people off for being barefoot but not for driving, so I don’t go up to people and say things like “Driving again? You’ll get a cold if you keep doing that” but it’s sometimes tempting.
Of course, now I’ve said all that I’ll catch a cold tomorrow, you watch.
13 comments
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March 12, 2011 at 8:42 am
Rick Pickett
We love barefoot, green grass, dirt and reconnecting.
Thanks for being “out there” with us!
March 17, 2011 at 11:03 am
Andy in Germany
Thanks Rick…
Hopefully we’ll be doing a lot more reconnecting in the next few months and years…
March 12, 2011 at 9:23 am
Will
“but since I started cycling daily I find that I can be surrounded by sneezing people with not a snuffle”
I’m right there with you. For me I think it may be one part riding a bike, and one part being vegetarian, but I also know non-vegetarians who cycle regularly and would agree with that statement too.
March 17, 2011 at 11:04 am
Andy in Germany
Hello Will…
You could have a point there, although it’s several years since I was a strict veggie. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who finds this…
March 12, 2011 at 12:25 pm
disgruntled
I also associate bike riding with fewer colds, and less severe ones when I do get one. Must try the ‘don’t go out in your car, you’ll catch a cold’ crack one of these days …
March 17, 2011 at 11:05 am
Andy in Germany
So I’m not alone, that’s good to know. Let me know how people in cars respond to your health warnings. (perhaps we should have health warning stickers on cars, like Copenhagenize suggests?)
March 12, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Kim
Preferring to be barefoot is not weird, it is normal, especially among those who have spent (at least part of) their childhood in warmer climates. I known a lot of people how like to be barefoot when ever they can…
March 17, 2011 at 11:07 am
Andy in Germany
Well, I’m not sure County Durham would count as a ‘warm climate’, but I see the point. I’ll have to check that.
Right now it’s misty and damp and I’m still barefoot. The joys of working from home…
March 12, 2011 at 4:31 pm
oldfool
Barefoot for life and for the life of your feet. SWMBO and I seldom wear shoes and socks except for staying warm or for protection. Putting on shoes and/or socks for anything else around here is just not done.
Catching cold because you are barefoot is a myth. You do not catch colds through your feet.
March 17, 2011 at 11:08 am
Andy in Germany
I have been known to wear socks in the depths of winter, but not usually for long. Personally my feet feel warmer after removing socks.
Well said, that man. I never did understand that logic…
March 14, 2011 at 6:32 am
John Romeo Alpha
Someone close to me claims his career goal is to spend more time barefoot every year. The more I do it, the more I tend to agree. Is it the bicycle riding that brings it out in me?
March 17, 2011 at 11:10 am
Andy in Germany
Hello John…
By the looks of these comments, it could well be the case, although I remember a ‘safety talk’ at school about how you should never ride a bicycle barefoot, with a thoroughly gory story attached.
February 21, 2015 at 4:27 pm
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