Character

 

Retired Life

 Here are pictures of my cargo conversion camper trailer, my girlfriend Debra, and our home base on a lake in Michigan.

Am I a Hippie?

 

Just because I have long hair it doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I made a career of teaching about love, compassion, kindness, and integrity doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I was an activist for nonviolent social change based upon principles of achieving power through love instead of achieving power through fear and intimidation doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because my life was based upon my interpretation of teachers and mentors of nonviolence like Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr, John Lennon, Jesus Christ (not the fundamentalist version btw) doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I was an anti-war protestor after serving in the military doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I'm far left-wing, anti-establishment and believe our entire economic and political system is corrupt to the core doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I've chosen medical marijuana to treat my PTSD and related mental health challenges instead of very dangerous pharmaceutical opiates or benzos (yes I'm a stoner...but I don't drink, smoke, or use any other drugs) doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I've developed a passion for Yoga doesn't make me a hippie.

Just because I have a van converted into a camper (yeah it looks like a hippie van "inside'), and love parking down by the river doesn't make me a hippie.

I cannot possibly be a hippie. Here's why:

According to https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hippie "hippies are, usually young person who rejects the mores of established society (as by dressing unconventionally or favoring communal living) and advocates a nonviolent ethic."

 I am not young. I've never lived communally except when the military made me.

According to https://www.britannica.com/topic/hippie hippies often adopted a vegetarian diet. Not me for sure. I'm eating high protein with lots of meat. My blood work numbers don't lie, what I'm doing is right for me.

According to a Salon article , hippies "went to Canada or European countries to escape being drafted into military service. They went without bathing, wore dirty, ragged, unconventional clothing, and deliberately broke all codes of politeness or manners. Rock music played an important part in the hippie movement and had great influence over the hippies. Many of the rock musicians they followed belonged to Eastern religious cults or practiced Satan worship."

I did not escape being drafted. I served in the military twice. I am very, very clean and I'm a polite person.....well, unless I'm not. I do accept lots of eastern religious philosophies but I am not in a cult, that would require people around me haha. I'm always by myself. Perhaps I could start a cult? Hmmmmm. I do believe, "All you need is love" and I believe in Karma.                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Now I suppose if I wanted to become a hippie then I could check out WikiHow, "How to Be a Hippie" to improve my game, man. I'm there with the music. WTF am I doing in Indiana?