Hurrah for being pain free! And hurrah for walking! I wasn't able to walk for six months or so once (ages ago) and it's something we so take for granted - so I feel your yeay!

I'm another person who buys shoes rarely and then hopes they last forever - I don't get the whole shoe thing, I just want them to be comfy! There are definitely shoes with arch support and stuff too (in fact my Etnies, which I bought in a sale and have lasted really well, have really comfy arch support). It's not generally the cheap fashion-y shoes that do, mind - but it makes such a difference to walking in them! /comfy-shoe-rant... *g*