Being described as a "hippie"

Alice In TX/MO · #21 01/13/12, 08:35 PM

I had this happen to me about ten years ago. I was working at a VERY small rural school district, teaching high school English. Principals come and go every couple of years. We got a new one, a good 'ol country boy from North Texas. I first met him on an inservice day, and I was going to work cattle after the work day, so I was in jeans, boots, etc.

He said, "Um.... just wanted to ask you something. I was *warned* by people here that you were a hippie. What are you??"

Hehehe.

I'm from Austin, graduated high school in the weird and wonderful year of 1972, so ..... clothes are costumes to me, and I may be a hippie today and a rancher tomorrow.

It was SOOOOOO funny.

kentuckyhippie · #22 01/13/12, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaSuzy

At least three times recently someone has talked about me saying that I am an "old hippie" and one said (to my face when introducing me to someone) that I was "previously a hippie."

Hum....I am 59, gray haired, have worked my butt off for years just to GET BY and woked in the mainstream media for more than 30 years as an investigative reporter (even though I am pretty conservative)....

I still have the same values as I did as a teen and in my 20's although life doesn't always let you live up to even your own ideals...

Someone in another thread here about MEN said something to the effect that they aren't as good as they were at the beginning because "the hippies started making some money...."

I now have a small general store on my farm, write two agricultural articles per month for a fairly large magazine; I shower (usually twice each day); try not to judge others:try not to judge others on their outward appearances; believe whole-heartedly in God and walk with Him daily even though I don't deserve His love; love all kinds of music; love all my animals; make herbal teas from herbs I dry and sell in my tiny store; and just try to live out the verses, I think in Thessalonians which says something to the effect of "mind your own business, and work with your hands...."

I don't have tatoos, (although I think the tiny flower on my 38 year old daughter's ankle is cute!); don't have rings or other piercing other than one tiny hole in each ear (although my daughter-in-law sometimes has a tiny nose ring); and am still sitting here trying to figure out why I am a "hippie."

I tended my mama till she passed away holding my hand and now spend a great deal of my time helping my husband who has cancer...

I love my farm where I have 11 goats, about 200 chickens, about 80 ducks, and 10 mostly Angora rabbits, plus the usual cats and a dog....

I believe in the importance and rights of SMALL TRUE FAMILY FARMS, think the government sticks its nose in our private business way too much (if you wanted to buy raw goat milk from me that should be your right---even though I DON'T have any goats I am milking now)---I believe in freedom of religion although I believe Jesus Christ leads us all to the one truth faith...

I don't smoke. I don't do drugs. And I even try to stay away from prescription and over-the-counter drugs as much as possible.

So what am I missing???? Why was I a hippie? Why am I still described as a hippie???? And what is WRONG if I AM ONE??????

I know what it is, they have gotten you confused with me LOL I'd just take it as a complement if I were you. After all, some of us old hippies are pretty good folks

Terri in WV · #23 01/13/12, 08:56 PM

I, like others, think of it as a compliment. I've had several people tell me that when they hear about Woodstock and hippies, they think of me. I was born at the end of '63. I don't wear tie dye, smoke funny things, etc.

I think it has more to do with our laid back attitude then anything. Being easygoing, non-judgemental and not trying to keep up with the Jones's makes folks think of hippies and that suits me fine.

Welshmom · #24 01/13/12, 09:02 PM

Hey, man.
Tell them the term 'hippie" was around a long time ago, where do they think the term "hipster" came from? It just means you're totally hip, but, like, better. Original. Y'know?

demeter · #25 01/13/12, 09:02 PM

Take it as a compliment. I've been called worse.

Demeter

Marilyn · #26 01/13/12, 09:24 PM

Hmmm, there's nothing wrong with people thinking you might be a hippie - they call me "granola" and I just smile because I think I've earned it.

Bukowski · #27 01/13/12, 09:43 PM

Funny you mention this. A friend of mine was complaining about not being able to sleep well and wanting to get prescribed some Ambien. I suggested before spending all that money on doctors appointments and prescriptions, he should try some melatonin or valerian. He just smiled and said he thinks Ambien would work better than any of my ol' hippie natural remedies.

Acer Rubrum · #28 01/13/12, 10:52 PM

HaHa- this reminds me-

A few years ago I ran into an old friend, Robert, from high school. As he introduced me to his wife he exclaimed "And (Acer Rubrum)'s mom was one of the true original hippies!" I must have looked confused because he said "Ya know, all the herbs? And the big garden? And wearing skirts and long hair?" I had to laugh, because that was the first time I realized that her religious views and frugality were perceived by some as the trappings of a hard-core hippie.

LOL!!!

My mom would be utterly aghast if I were to tell her what Robert said. She is an ultra conservative Republican who never misses a church service. She thinks that the "drug-addled, left wing commie" hippies of the 60s were sent straight from the pits of hell to ruin the whole world. HaHa!!!

hippygirl · #29 01/13/12, 11:04 PM

I was born in 1960, so I was still a kid when "the hippie lifestyle" faded away. The reason my screen name is "Hippygirl" is because that's what my uncle and his buddies tagged me with it when I was little (I tagged along with them from the time before I could see over the dashboard). I just wanted to get that out of the way...

Anyway, now that I'm about to be 52, people (especially "young" people) are calling me a hippie once again because of the way I choose to live out my days...and that's OK with me!

Big Dave · #30 01/13/12, 11:14 PM

Ok so what is a hippie? Where did that come from? Being hip? Being over weight?

Michael W. Smith · #31 01/14/12, 12:07 AM

Well, being born in 1952, you would be in your teens in the mid - late 60's - when hippies were getting all the attention, with their peace, love, drugs, etc. So I think it's more because of your age than what you actually look like now. You would have been the right age to be on the scene - so even if you weren't, people just assume you were.

I'm only 44, and I get told I look like a hippie. And I will admit that part of it is true - I have the long hair - several inches below the shoulders - but it's not that I want to look like a hippy, it's just that I prefer to have long hair. (I really think it stems back to my early teens when I had to keep my hair short. Even as a mid teen - to late teen, my hair was longer than what my parents liked.) I'm "rebeling" now that I'm out on my own!

But I don't really care too much what people say. I'm the one who really determines if I'm happy in life, and I have no desire to change on my part to make someone else happy - they need to worry about their own lives - NOT mine!

Harry Chickpea · #32 01/14/12, 01:49 AM

feh. Tell 'em "I'm no hippie, I'm just a loose woman." and watch the double-take.

mary,tx · #33 01/14/12, 09:05 AM

I've never been called a hippie. If I was, I'd let them know different.

Riverdale · #34 01/14/12, 09:32 AM

M reply, "I'm not a hippie, I'm a survivalist"

upnorthlady · #35 01/14/12, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sonshine

I think a lot of the younger generation think people that believe in back to the land type things make them a hippie. Then you add the fact that you lived during the woodstock days and it cements their ideas.

This is true! Us old baby boomers are considered "hippies" because we grew up in the hippy generation. I'm soon to be 64 and was never actually a real hippy in the 60's, but today any independent, back to the land type, is considered a hippy. Take it as a compliment. I am proud to have grown up during the 50's and 60's. It was a great time to be alive, we lived life to the fullest and didn't sit around playing with text messages like today's kids. We DID things!

meanwhile · #36 01/14/12, 10:56 AM

I was a Hippy way back in 1971 College days and am probably a Hippy still today. I would not worry about it. I think it is a compliment that you can take care of yourself, grow your own food, raise animals and like said above, are independent. Don't worry about it - it is a compliment.

NickieL · #37 01/14/12, 11:38 AM

I happen to like tye dye and I wish it would come back into fashion!

whiterock · #38 01/14/12, 11:46 AM

we had a little restaurant in town for a couple of years called the hippie cowboy. which means what? When I was in college, on my side of the quad, we had the longhairs and the kickers. I was in the kicker group, we would gather in front of the Ag bldg between classes and shoot the bull. Now and then a longhair came by that I knew and would stop to visit with me, got some harsh looks from some of the kickers and one day told me he wouldn't stop by there again. Didn't bother me when he did. He felt uncomfortable. Small town near here has a little bar, bartender is tall, long hair, and looks like an old hippie, probably been called that, most of the customers wear boots and hats. No one seems to mind one way or the other.
Ed

eta, next time tell em you ain't old!!

MOgal · #39 01/14/12, 12:35 PM

I was in college 1967-71 and the hippies on campus at that time were deep into the drug culture which was just really getting started in the smaller towns. Among that hippie group, no one cared if the name was used but among the kids who didn't do drugs, etc., it was a major insult. I submit to prescription drugs with great care because of an adverse reaction to two that the druggist said would be okay to take together. I consider that event a great blessing because the memory of it prevented me from trying street drugs. Ever.

I didn't meet DH until well after collge but about 15 years ago, he referred to me in my presence as a hippie. I fuzzed up at him real quick with an "I BEG your pardon!" and had a long discussion about my definition of hippie with him. Then he understood why it had set me off, he apologized.

whiterock · #40 01/14/12, 01:02 PM

Mogal, we were in college at the same time, mostly, I was 68 -74, got masters before i left. Another set of terms we used was ropers and dopers. I didn't use and didn't hang around those that did. But didn't let clothes or hair length be the rule, just the sign post.
I think now that people of our age group that live basic simple lives are called old hippies by the people that just remember the hippie communes of the 60s and 70s. Not sure they think of the drug culture of the time at all now. Just assumed everyone did it. Not so.
Ed