Hi and welcome `boo`to our forum,here`s an article/quote I found that might help.
The Advantages of Being a Hippie
When you hear the word hippie, chances are you think of the 1960's, tie dye, long free flowing hair styles, no makeup and perhaps the Grateful Dead or Credence Clearwater Revival. You may even think of
the "natural" clothing made of hemp, cotton or other natural fibers. The dictionary defines hippie as "one who doesn't conform to society's standards...". In this day and age with prices so inflated and wages so deflated, I have found many benefits to remaining a hippie.
I was raised in the 1960's and 1970's. I remember when gas prices were barely 25 cents per gallon. I remember going to the grocery store and buying 6 bags of groceries and paying less than $10 per bag of groceries. As the saying goes, "Less is more", I have concluded that this is definitely the way to go. Its no longer about whether or not you have an incense burner, tie dyed clothing or a bean bag chair. Its not the music you listen to, nor is it the car you drive, its a lifestyle of simplicity.
Simplicity is making do with what you have. Simplicity is learning to do without (if you had relatives that lived through the depression ask them how it was).
Thus I have concluded the following: Clothing goes in and out of style so quickly that it won't matter next week if you bought what was in style this week. Thus it is much simpler and less expensive to simply buy the basics and keep them year round. That tee shirt you have that goes so great with your jeans will look just as great with a long sleeved tee shirt under it in the winter to keep you warmer. Not to mention those jeans. Why pay $60 or more for those trendy jeans when the basic styles are just fine and always in style? Those tie dye shirts of yesteryear? Hang on to them, when they rotate styles you won't have to go out and buy new ones to be in style, just dig into your closet and pull them out.
Long skirts are always in style. If you choose a "bohemian" style and pair it with a classic top or tee shirt you will always be in style. Your own style or the current trendy style. It isn't really important to wear that trendy suit to church every Sunday or to work each weekday, set your own style. Easy and free flowing.
That tank top you like so well, hang on to it, it will go great over a tee shirt or under it depending on the time of year, even alone it will stand well. Pair it with some trendy beads or jewelry that you find at a thrift store and you are right in style, and you are saving tons of money too. Add a belt or scarf for a new degree of interest.
The best part of these styles is that when those that think they have to have everything decide to change their wardrobes, they give the old stuff to the thrift stores. Thrift stores are a treasure trove for the hippie style. You can mix and match and find it all right there.
Make up? Come on gals, blush and mascara at the most for your style. If you have lots of freckles or uneven skin tone you might want a touch of foundation, but for the most part, you can do almost without the bother. A true hippie never wore makeup. Why spend the money?
Do you drive a fancy car? or do you make do with one that is held together with bailing twine, duct tape (a whole different article in the making) and pantyhose? Or, do you shun vehicles altogether and opt for walking or riding a bike? For some of you, perhaps its even a horse if you live in a rural area.
All those fancy electronic gadgets? Do we really need 4 VCR's, 2 DVD players and 5 television sets? All of those game platforms? Or can we survive as our ancestors did using less?
Do you garden? In our household we have 5 gardens. We can and freeze our food for the winter months. Some call us hippies for that alone. Seriously though, have you priced veggies lately? When you can grow them in your own yard and know exactly what pesticides were or were not used they are so much healthier!
I recently went to a '60's party where we all dressed up in '60s style clothing and ate finger food. My 14 year old son took one look at me and said he wouldn't be seen in public with me if I were to dress like that daily. Interestingly, my husband was helping me with my wardrobe that night and as he came out of the closet he commented that it didn't matter what I wore, it was all from the 60's in my side of the closet. I guess I have been making a statement all along. I suspect that it is rare that my 14 year old son actually notices what I wear since my husband tells me my entire wardrobe is 60's style.
I don't need all of society's "standards" to be happy. I am happy with the basics and my family. So with that said, since I don't conform to society's standards, I concede, I am a hippie.
elitemrp.net/hippytest.shtml So, where do you fall in the equation?
if your ideals are not typical of normal society, but rather center on peace social justice , spiritual growth, healing, love, especially the universal unconditional type
if your heart leads you to care more for your fellow man then for wealth and fame and power
if you chooser a lifestyle other then what most society accepts as normal
if you refuse to fight except if the fights for change
theres so many things that can make you a hippie, thats why hippies are so hard to define
don't be a hippie be a hip I
I hope some of this will give you some ideas,,take care Pledm
..ill let you know how it goes - either way its great to learn about something that really matters =]