^ Good lesson learned, then.
If I can give a piece of advice, I'd worry less about being a hippie. Not that you need to change your behaviour, but drop the label; being "hip" just means being who you are. From the way you talk, (and I can relate), it seems like perhaps "hippie" is a filter through which you run yourself. If this is so, you might consider trying to change it.
As to living in the present, I think you must keep in mind that it doesn't mean doing nothing. You're always doing something, from moment to moment, projecting yourself into the future if only a little bit. It's not about ignoring any bigger picture, but remembering to cherish the smaller, more immediate picture. You can do anything with your life (just about) and still live in the present, at least most of the time.
You can't completely abdicate the future; even your posting this shows that much