Old Hippie FAQs

I'm sure there will be those who would like to clam that after the 60's the "official" term for Hippy is no longer relevant, and that "Hippy" is dead. While some may agree to this, I think that is debatable.


I think the ideas and ideals of a Hippy will continue on with anyone willing to carry on those ideas and ideals, as heavy as they may seem at times.

So I think an Old Hippy is anyone over the age of 50, and may even include as a fringe-age of 45+.

Why do I say this? Look at the number of threads where the young have asked where they fit in since they are too old for the Young Hippies, and not old enough for the Old Hippies. One day they will reach this age and be considered an Old Hippy. And if you set it to a specific time period, then you doom Hippies to a certain death, old or young, once those who were there and were considered original hippies are no more.

As long as there are Old Hippies here to relay their ideas, ideals, and opinions on what it was like being "Hip" or a "Hippy" back in the early 60's when the movement first started, there will always be those who take these ideas, ideals and opinions to heart.

Darrell

 

An old hippie is someone who was a freak (I always liked that word better) in the 60's and early 70's; who didn't gravitate to the the 80's disco craze and change their ideologies and identities along with their musical tastes to meld with each passing decade; who have grown and aged gracefully, still adhering to basic creeds and common sense tenets of their youth, and have tried to pass along those same ideologies and beliefs and knowledge to their own children (however resistant they may be! LOL). An old hippie is one who has not, over the years, been swallowed up by popular belief, political sway, or media brainwashing. I could go on, but brevity is not my strongest asset
An old hippie knows that the word "hippie" is not relevent....that "hippie" is not a label or niche or "thing". It is a state of mind, a set of beliefs and a lifetime style of living.

 

While I was ALIVE in the time talked about HERE, I wasn't old enough to take part. But, my older sibs were, and ONE even did! I think of my cousin Casey as my big sister.
She ended up giving in to "The Machine". Money, Government and Taxes.
She still lives in Long Beach. To ME, a Hippy is one whom gives a darned about fellow humans, doesn't CARE about someones Skin Color, or Religion. Just that we are ALL living here on this Ball of dirt.

 

What was San Francisco like? Was it really a paradise of peace and love, or was it mostly about drugs? What did you (as a group, not you as an individual) value more, drugs or free love?

 

I can answer this one. It was all about LOVE. Not just the sexual kind either. It was about LOVING the person next to you as a friend. Not matter where his ancesters are from.

 

it was about starvation and struggle,staying away from the cops and finding a place to sleep everynight.

 

Amen!

 

Yes , the love.
Walking up to any group of freaks and immediately being included. No one judging you, everyone respecting each others differences and celebrating them...whatever your "trip" was...it was cool as long as you wern't hurting anyone else.
When I traveled across country, I didn't worry that I didn't "know" anyone wherever I ended up....I always found "family".

 

I would like to petition this board of "Old Hippies" to be an Old Hippy myself.. I was born in 2-3-62..I was raised on John Prine, Mason Proffitt, Kahlil Gibran, The Beatles and the Stones.. WE raised our own food, recycled, watched the news, studied nature, tie-dyed, growing up.. I was truly raised as a Flower Child by Hippies older than most of you.. I care about the country, the environment, the children, I'm active in my commmunity, and I'm spiritually whole.. I knew and understood all the words to Sam Stone and Two Hangman before I was 12.. These things affected my life and my life style now.. Heck my Mom's still a Hippy too.. I feel I would be an assett on the Old Hippy side of this Forum, as opposd to this Limbo between Old Hippy and Gen X .. The birth rate didn't drop until after I was born..The Birth Control pill wasn't prescribed freely until 1962 , so I fall into the Baby Boomer category-barely.. There I've pled my case and I leave it into to the hands of you that I fell are truly my Peers. "Old Hippy" isn't a number or a fashion statement. It's in your heart and you can see it in the eyes..Thank You Peace Love

 

sam stone lived lone,with his wife and family..now there's two hangmen hanging from a tree,but that don't bother me

what's it matter,sounds like you got it together.Post how you feel,wherever you feel is the right place.Being an ol'fart,I just don't post in the young hippies cause,for the most part,i think they should be left alone...

To make it unofficial,you're an ol'fart too.Happy now?

 

YAY!!! I love ol' farts...heck, I even married one.

 

lol, You're dead dude, you can do what you want. The rules said I had to be 45, born before 1961, to answer Old Hippy Questions. I'm only allowed to ask..
After I thought about it, it occured to me that I never had a niche before. So what difference did it matter now?.. I was only indignent for a moment. I already knew I was on ol' fart though. And yes I'm happy now. Thanks for asking . Peace Love

 

YIPPIE OLD HIPPIES HERE!
I am new here & wrote my Introduction below, & received ONLY one welcome from Hippiestead, here is a copy:


Hello, to all you old hippies out there! I hit the tail end of the hippie movement, and was teenager when I started to adopt the hippie lifestyle.
I will make a list and you all can determine if I was a true hippie or not.

1) My first introduction to hippiehood was dropping acid at the age 14.
2) But it wasn't until my brother was sent to Vietnam, I really began to change.
3) Soon after I got rid of the makeup, started wearing hiking boots, wore old holie patched & embroidered jeans, macramade belts & old flannel shirts (goodwill).
4) I quit shaving my armpits & legs, but because of my Native American heritage I didn't grow much hair anyway. This was devastating to me.
5) Stopped wearing a bra.
6) Hung out in hippie parks.
7) I sold "Willamette Bridges" & pan handeled in downtown Portland.
8) Began eating & drinking natural foods such as, soy bean patties, goats milk & sprouts.
9) Hitch hiked when hitch hiking was fairly safe.
10) Actually slept in "Goodwill" box & an abandoned house several times, and was homeless but didn't know it.
(basically I came home from high school one day and my folks moved)
11) Began Protesting the Vietnam War.
12) Helped to burn efigy of Nixon outside his hotel in downtown Portland.
"Tin soldiers & Nixon's coming were're finally on our own, this summer I hear the drumming four dead in Ohio!"
13) Attended rallies such as, "Invasion of Laos" & "Free Angela Davis & All Political Prisoners!" POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
14) Lived in an old house with 7 other hippies and 7 dogs!
15) Drank electric wine & dropped a lot more acid.
16) Help to sneek approx. 25 -30 people in to Led Zepplin concert.
17) Listen to the Fireside Theater, Frank Zappa, & all the classic ROCK of that time.
18) I was extremely affected by the movies, "Joe" & "Billyjack".
19) Read "Johnathan Livingston Segal", "Sidhartha", "Hobbit" & Electric Koolaid Acid Test"
20) Wore petulie oil (please excuse my spelling)
21) Attended "Bull Frog" 1 & 2, & Satsup in WA.
22) Wrote poems and painted anti-war images on house walls.

Do I qualify?
Anyway, so much more to share & I look forward to learning more here.

Thanks for this forum!
Rjchinook

 

Okay, this is my thoughts re: "who didn't gravitate to the the 80's disco craze" & I politely beg to differ.
Because I eventually got into disco & but have managed to stay strong to my hippie idealogies to this day.
I have passed these same idealogies on to my three beautiful daughters (ages 15, 22 & 26) & as an adjunct Instructor in higher education I have passed them on to our youth.
I compare these ideologies to a religion, as they are always there in my heart, part of me & never go way. They are thought processes that are permanetely planted in my being.
I was so proud to see so many people young & old protesting the "Invasion of Iraq" in Seattle.
It brought back so many memories, but at that time (early 70's) basically only younger people (the hippies) were the protestors.
So I believe old hippie idealogies can live on NO matter who or what you are today!

 

Chinook Lady, You are delightful.. I believe you are an old hippy.. I agree with the disco thing.. Good disco was good.. Bad disco was just plain awful.. of course after Steely Dan's Peg everything else was pretty much a poor imitation..

 

Hey thanks Skoozy! I see that your an artist too, do you have any of your portraits here to share?

 

Looks like there are a lot of artists here, is there a page here where we can view each others art?

 

I posted some sketches in the artist forum section.. It's really some interesting surfing over there.. The thread is Skoozy's Sketches .. sometimes this url works.. http://community-2.webtv.net/luv2draw2000/home/ ..I'm on webtv and it kinda sucks sometimes.. My daughter-in-law and I collaborated on the drawing in my signature..