My dad was a 'true' hippy back in the day. now though at 50 something he's a grumpy fat old man. he did all the drugs, went to loads of festivals, got up to lots of mischief etc.etc. Im a sort of neo-wanna-be-hippy at the age of 18. because of how the world works i cant live up to what he was/did back then, and im kind of jelous. he saw Hawkwind dozens of times, Led zeppelin and pink floyd live. ofcourse i can only see hawkwind now but they are nothing now compared to what they once were. festivals arent the same now *curse you modern music * i think i fear turning into what he is now.. stagnated.. boring... lifeless. it also pains me to be surrounded by people my own age who are totally normal and boring and i stick out from the crowd so i cant stretch my wings fully DJS;GLKJSDKL;GJASD;LGJSDLJGrantness
hippies were one of the funniest things to happen to the last century lol. Lazy people thinking they will change the world... but really... is our world any better today? Their generation is the one controling today's society.
I dunno... I'm not one to decide who's a 'real' hippie or anything... But maybe your dad was just into the appearances parts of the counterculture. And he could have been a grump back then, seeing as you weren't around in those days. Lotsa grumpy people go to festivals and lots of grumpy people do/did drugs. ahahha. Theres no use in trying to live up to something you have no real idea about, you know what I mean? He can say he went to concerts and did drugs and whatnot, but that doesn't make him anything spectacular to live up to just because of those things. Your dad has his past, and theres no possible way for you to know every little detail that could have added up to make him stagnant, boring, grumpy and lifeless now. Don't worry about the folks around you too much, as in what they think about you, though I'm sure you grasp that concept already... You've got a fresh path ahead of you and it's completely yours to walk down. Just do what you like as much as you like, and don't dwell on the bad things you could become. Just focus on being the happiest and best possible human you can be. I know it sounds totally cornball and cliché of me to say all this, but it's the truth, ya know? As far as friends and the kids around you... All I can say is to go places you like. Do things you like to do. You're bound to run into someone likeminded. Makes sense, doesn't it? Obviously, don't go out hippie hunting and expect to find a dreadlocked deadhead in tie dye.. ahhahahah. you know what i mean... Just learn to be a loner for a little while and soon you'll find some folks ya like. Life takes time. Be patient and have fun.
I'm in the same situation as you.....My dad was a hippie, so was my mum. My mum sorta raised my from the age 10 up as a hippie.