The Collapse CIV: Footwear

 25 May 20XX +1

My Dear Lucilius:

In going through my weekly review of items in the house, I realized that at some point footwear is going to be an issue.

Footwear is one of those things (like many others) that I think many people took for granted in a world where it was available at their fingertips. Few knew where their footwear came from or how it got to them. It was made out of miracle materials that were lightweight and stylish (and highly artificial) or durable and rugged (and again, highly artificial). No matter what the size of the foot was, a pair of footwear was always available in just the right size and shape: regular, narrow, wide. We even had things to put in your shoes to compensate for the shape of the foot.

Was. Were. But no more.

The need for me is not acute, not yet. I have the work boots that I typically wear and a pair of sneakers for lighter walking and a pair of general boots for “going out”. But other than two pairs of backup sneakers (if I found something that works, I always bought more – once upon a time, one never knew when they would suddenly go “off the market”), a formal pair of Japanese sandals for my martial arts, and the “gum boots” for working in dirt and mud, the shoe cupboard is bare.

The practice of the cobbler is one of the skills that I have never even considered mastering (although of interest), nor does anyone I seem to have made contact with have the ability to make a pair of shoes. Apparently there is someone two towns away that can work leather, but the ability to manufacture footwear remains unknown. Perhaps because it has never been tried, perhaps because it has never come up before.

The sneakers, I assume, are done at some point. Even if I walk carefully, the materials will eventually rip, the soles become slick and eventual separate, the inside lining wear away. There will be no possible repairs. The same could be said for my work boots – artificial materials will wear away eventually, although the uppers may survive. Only my general boots, completely made of leather, have any chance of making it long term.

What will I do? The options seem limited. Perhaps I will get lucky and another set of footwear will “magically” appear, although given my shoe size/width ratio, that seems rather unlikely. In a question of large or small, large is always better as at least my feet are not confined to the point of pain – although they will rub. Sandals in this climate would be almost useless for anything other than traction during a long part of the year. Perhaps some version of moccasins – not unknown in this parts once upon a time – might make a comeback, but only if someone knows how to make them.

Such a simple thing, Lucilius. Yet all too soon, so sorely missed.

Your Obedient Servant, Seneca