Hi Garth,
I think that you are right to recognize the big variability of recovery for different people.
This is totally anecdotal, but my general practice physician saw me 4 weeks or so after surgery and remarked on my good recovery. I mentioned that I was pretty much an ideal candidate (sounds like you are too). And he replied that surgeon skill was probably also a factor. Just another reason why it's good to do some research into whom you choose to perform the surgery.
I was bilateral but 5 weeks apart, so not entirely the same as you are planning. I know I was walking without a cane somewhere in that 4th week, but I know I was still weak (limping) and would alternate between walking with cane to focus on a normal gait, vs walking without to gain strength.
I don't know how much more difficult it will be for you with the simultaneous bilateral. Another anecdote: in preop, my surgeon made some comment to me that I would probably be one of those patients who tries to get back to work a week after surgery. I hadn't considered that, but after he mentioned that, it was almost like a challenge. I was back to my desk job 1 week after my 1st surgery and 10 days after the 2nd.
In my opinion, 5 weeks is WAY on the aggressive side of recovery for working on your feet all day. But it may be possible if everything goes right (for e.g., on my 2nd surgery I developed an allergic reaction to the incision glue, and that set me back a few days).
I'm sure some others who have had simultaneous bilat and/or who have returned to on-your-feet work can provide better info.
One other aside. Depending on your insurance, one thing that helped me out was scheduling surgery early in the year. I hit my out-of-pocket limit right away, and then had follow-ups etc fully covered.
Keep lookin' up,
-Dirk
Bilat 02/08, 03/08, Dr. Ball, ASR