I've gotten to the point where when I put on jeans, my dog gets excited (assuming that we're going for a walk).

I do find pets amusing. If you have a dog, all of the concerns most people voice about shoes applies to the dog. And they often seem to seek out poop to step in. We've been forced to bath our dog because he found coyote scat and thought that was good to wear.

Anecdotally, this checks. Shoes off, dog sits on the couch, dog’s habits fall under the field of bacteriology.

It's like fuzz testing for your immune system.

All the while they ignore the litter box... And flush their human toilets with the lid open...

The world's a gross place. I know it's unavoidable for some (e.g. OCD) but by and large, I tend to think people spend an inordinate amount of time pursuing an unreasonable level of cleanliness.

As a child I had to wash our dog's paws in winter/wet weather and a quick wipe otherwise. Dirt is dirt, nobody wants to walk on dirt at home.

I won't say I'm utterly rigorous about it but, yah, I increasingly transitioned to bare feet or indoor crocs with socks depending on the season. And, if I'm not going out (and even sometimes then), sweats or something along those lines.

I’ve found myself doing the opposite when working from home, but I have a backyard office that doesn’t have a bathroom. I make a number of trips inside each day and taking shoes off each time can be a pain. Having a puppy who will steal my shoes also adds to the annoyance.

Some shoes are easy to put on in a moments notice - and doing so will just become habit. If you want some shoes in the office, invest in a pair of decent slippers or some shoes just worn inside.

A cabinet is often enough to keep the shoes from the puppy - just borrow it from somewhere else. The puppy won't be a puppy forever.

Even $5 flip flops work great for that

Ah yes, my garage/laundry shoes.

Don't stop there: How to Feel Better Naked https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/17/well/live/feel-better-nak...

This is probably the main reason I look forward to empty nesting. If I'm in my bedroom, I'm nude. I am thrilled with the prospects of expanding that boundary.

It's so annoying to "suit up" for the sake of my innocent and unsuspecting children just so I can grab a glass of water and avoid assaulting them with my hideous form.

The missus on the other hand, well she's on her own.

> It's so annoying to "suit up" for the sake of my innocent and unsuspecting children just so I can grab a glass of water and avoid assaulting them with my hideous form.

This seems to be a very cultural thing too... growing up in Europe I saw my parents/grandparents/aunt/uncle naked plenty of times while I was at home or staying over with my cousins. Nudity around family was normal and expected.

This led to being more accepting of ones own body as well and not necessarily seeing nudity as intrinsically linked to "bad".

Also, one time after a sleep over my dad came out of the master fresh from his shower to go fetch clean clothes from the dryer, wearing not a thread.

My friend was eating cereal at the table and blew it everywhere upon the sight. Good times.

Unfortunately I'd expect this could get someone in the US arrested today.

I often stayed overnight at the home of an uncle who slept in either standard issue whitey tighties, or just nude.

On more than one late night, he was forced to come and whisper yell at me and my cousins along with whatever friends happened to be there as well to quiet down. Anyone who didn't live there found it hilarious to no end. It only served to energize us, rather than the intended calming effect.

At 10 it was pretty difficult to take seriously anyone with wild bed hair and a bare ass, or cartoonish underwear for that matter.

I still giggle 25 years later picturing his angry silhouette sauntering away mumbling under his breath.

I would definitely agree. There is a good amount of puritanical shame when it comes to nudity in the U.S. which I don't identify with.

I don't really have an issue with my own body and do everything I can to instill body positivity within my kids. On the other hand, I think it's important to be considerate of their wishes, and recognize while it's perfectly natural (i.e. not "bad"), that doesn't mean it's pleasant. I'm American after all... lots of lumps, loose skin, and hair where it doesn't make much sense :)

I am slightly scarred by memories of the sudden and unexpected emergence of a nude parent.

>growing up in Europe

It is not like Europe is a "same thing".

Common habits in Finland or Sweden (say) are very different from (still say) Italy or Spain.

I’ve been working from home since before the pandemic.

I used to be a denim jeans fan, now I’m at a stage where I don’t switch from sweatpants when I go outside.

Do you have a standing desk? I find that standing in socks, barefoot, or even in indoor slippers is very fatiguing for my feet when standing for hours--so fatiguing in fact that I have a pair of indoor-only new balances, and only use them for standing at my desk inside my "home office". I wonder if there are any alternatives that are even healthier for my feet while avoiding foot/standing fatigue.

It sounds odd - and you’ll still want shoes - but having a walking treadmill under there might be your best bet. I find that just standing hurts my feet but I can walk practically all day without them hurting.

I use a thick yoga mat in front of my standing desk. Fancier options exist, but the important thing is not to stand on a flat, hard surface.

You can get standing desk mats :) I got one for this reason.

I got a balance board for that. Mats like others suggest help, but the shifting makes it much easier for me to stand

Next time you’re in a grocery store, check out the mats the cashiers stand on. Thick, flexible rubber.

Yep, those are called anti-fatigue mats. They are inexpensive and make a huge difference for your feet/knees/back anywhere you stand for long periods. I have one at my standing desk, one in front of the sink in the kitchen, and at my workbench in the garage.

Counterpoint: I have indoor-only shoes, and I feel a lot like Mr. Rogers when I put them on. I put them on while working from home because it dramatically increases the likelihood that I will take a break and walk on the treadmill during work.

This is what I do. They're technically "slippers", but they have actual soles so I consider them slip-on shoes.

Here in the South we call them "house shoes".

I love my pair of house shoes. I think I like my winter ones more and was sad to put them away in February.

I just run on my treadmill in socks.

does this not cause grip issues?

People run marathons without shoes, so I don’t think grip would be an issue.

Not at all, the treadmill is pretty grippy. I'd do it barefoot but the rough treadmill surface actually gave me friction burns the few times I tried it.

There are comfy clothes for collecting pet hair while at home, and nicer, less comfy clothes that are kept as far away from pet hair as possible for wearing outside the home.