A cultural note: in Russia and Central Asia, it is considered de rigeur to take your shoes off when you enter a home. You stack your shoes neatly in the entryway, and go barefoot inside (or wear slippers). I know there is a similar custom in Japan, and it just makes sense. Why track mud through the house?

I also love going barefoot. Most of the time we're in the backyard, I run around in a kilt, barefoot, and frequently shirtless. It's just more comfortable that way, and I like comfort.