Leftover Hippies

Saw the term “leftover hippies” used in a news item about communities where boomers are retiring, and it made me wonder how they meant that to be taken. Was it someone who wore bellbottoms and smoked dope in the 60s but now that they don’t dress that way (or smoke anything illegal) they still like to think their ideals haven’t changed? Or was it someone’s lament that they are the last of the leftover hippies – an example of a vanishing breed?

It was spoken by a ready-to-retire baby boomer referring to herself, so I’m going to guess that she is someone who believes in the same ideals that hippies represented almost 50 years ago.

Leftover hippies and baby boomers are not mutually exclusive, but for some people it seems convenient to keep the culture war going. A certain radio showhost uses the term in a most derogatory manner, but is that any way to talk about people who just wanted to “give peace a chance.” Is that so wrong, as Harvey Fierstein would say. Hippies were supposed to defy the establishment, but once you’ve co-opted that establishment, you become part of it. Then what?

Can you tell just by looking if someone is a leftover hippie? For women, would it be longhair parted in the middle and going braless? For men, is it the pony tail in the back, all bald on top?

From music and politics to fashion and art, hippies had an extraordinary impact on our culture. If you need your memory jogged, how about The Summer of Love. Woodstock. The Grateful Dead. Tie-Dye. Psychedelics. Teach-ins. The Whole Earth Catalog. Communes. Ben & Jerry’s. Okay -- even Renaissance Festivals!
Jay Harrison is a graphic designer and writer whose work can be seen at DesignConcept and at BoomSpeak. He's written a mystery novel, which therefore makes him a pre-published author.