Growing up, did you live in a “shoes on” or “shoes off” household?
In my house, it was generally OK for friends to come over and keep their shoes on while they were inside, but I remember visiting other friends’ houses, I had to make sure I wasn’t wearing holy socks, because all visitors had to leave their shoes at the door. There didn’t seem to be any perceivable reason for families to swing one way or the other, except for, perhaps, plush carpeting.
Now that I have my own house, I find myself in kind of a halfway state… I don’t wear shoes around the house, mainly for comfort. And while I don’t mind visitors keeping their shoes on when the come over, there’s been at least one time where someone walked on our (plush) carpeting with muddy shoes. So the unspoken rule is: if it’s messy outside, take your shoes off. Otherwise, do as you wish.
Posted in Everyday Life
Mark January 4, 2007, 1:21 am
I have no problem removing my shoes at a person’s door. Afterall, it is their home, their property and I have come to respect their floors and carpets.
A good rule of thumb if your host greets you at the door shoeless wheather it be socks or barefoot, it’s a subtle hint to remove your shoes before entering.
jane January 5, 2007, 1:07 pm
I work in a jewleery shop, and always take my heels off in the shop and just work all day in my socked feet. As long as I wear black trousers and black socks very few people notice. Heels are really not suitable when working in a shop all day, and I enjoy having my feet free and being able to pad around in my socks all day!!r
ann December 6, 2007, 11:09 am
I work in a bank and always go in my socked feet.
mark August 3, 2008, 9:39 am
We are most definately a shoes off house.I share a similar experience to kirk, or should i say my wife and her family.They are canadian and without exception are fanatical about shoes off.Essentially our house and her families are shoes off and slippers on.The only choice we have either slippers with or without socks.But i have to say after nine years i have got used to it and its harmless and just part of her culture.And we do have very light pure wool carpets, so its also good sense as we live in a semi rural area.Lifes too complicated as it is without getting booged down by trivia.