Question for old hippies about FREEDOM

Hi. I am Portuguese and I live in the city of Oporto. My grandmother is Brazilian and she was a hippie in the 1960's. She refused to live with her parents when she was 16 and left her home to live in a commune.
A few days ago, I asked her many questions about the hippie movement, and she told me she never felt happier, but then decided she had to make a life, get married, buy a house, a car, have a job and everything, so she left the commune and moved to Portugal, and went back to her life in the city.

I am fascinated about the idea of living in a commune, always travelling and doing whatever I want. But right now, I live in a flat with my parents and brother, I have everything I need, I go to an expensive school, and I feel that is not enough. I feel imprisioned by a system, a routine, something that does not allow me to be free. When I talk about this to my parents, they laugh and tell me that I'm crazy, that life is much different than the 60's right now and that the only thing I have to worry about is my studies.

So, I am writing this thread to know what you, old and wise hippies, think I can do to change all this monotonous, fake and consumist way of life. What can I do when I'm young, live in a city, don't have a driver's license, money or job? How did you do to live in a commune?

Peace. eace:

 

Only you can decide that. If you think your life is "monotonous and fake", then change it by changing your attitude. There are many pathways to freedom ... each of us has to find our own.

Freedom and happiness are not found in external circumstances, unless you're, like, in prison or something. Whether you live an elaborate life in an expensive home, or live a quiet simple life in a commune, your happiness depends on how you yourself feel about it.

The best of luck on your journey

 

Your mother is right about one thing, at least. It was much different in the 60's. Back then, youthful people outnumbered the aged. With such a large number of young people in the world, it was much easier to find others who felt as we did. Because of this, it was easier to run off to the commune, or hippie neighborhoods, because every major city had one or two. These days, it might be very hard to find a group of people who live the way you wish.

As Granny says, you have the ability to make a difference in your life right where you are. It will be easier and safer than going in search of a new life.

Knowledge is the key to understanding and understanding is the key to happiness. You may not like your teachers, or their methods, but you should try to embrace the act of learning. It will ultimately allow you many more paths to the freedom you seek.

 

That is a very good point trigcove, about the age difference in demographics back then, and how that group is all pretty old now, and prolly has not be replaced with more young people, or young hippies. Did not really think about that.

 

Thanks a lot all of you

eace: