Think of different groups you've interacted with, read about, or seen online. Which ones seem to be the most "adjacent" to the classic hippies?
A few interesting studies have looked at sun exposure and health outcomes. In a large Swedish study of women followed for 20+ years, those with the most active sun-seeking habits had significantly lower all-cause mortality than people who avoided the sun. The biggest differences showed up in fewer deaths from heart disease and other non-cancer causes. Sun avoidance carried a risk roughly comparable to smoking in some analyses.
Similar patterns have shown up in UK Biobank data: people living in sunnier parts of the country or who used sunbeds had lower rates of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer overall (even though melanoma diagnoses went up a bit). Moderate outdoor time has also been linked to lower mortality in other large cohorts.
The benefits seem to go beyond just vitamin D, and the biggest gains appear in places that don’t get a ton of strong sun year-round.
So here’s my question for the group: Given that naturists tend to get more full-body sun exposure than almost anyone else, why hasn’t anyone done a proper study comparing disease rates or longevity in long-term naturists versus the general population? Has anyone here ever seen research like that, or know of any attempts?
There is no such thing as a hippie checklist. In fact, I hesitated to post this since I always wince when someone tries to quantify what it means to be a hippie. Yet I like this list because it is broad. Personally, I'd consider you a hippie if you only identified with a small number of them but were all-In on them...yet we've seen a few people on this subreddit who'd only consider you to be a hippie if you lived the lifestyle during the hippie era.
So, how many of these do you relate to in a meaningful way? You can just give a number, or comment with specifics. Consider letting us know if you counted a category only if it is central to your being, or if you "kind of" relate to it.
I enjoyed this video. As many of you know, Vermont is one of the epicenters of American hippie life. And as one of the people suggests in the video, not all of these hippies look like they arrived in a time machine from 1969. Being a hippie is a mindset more than it is a checklist of fashion and music choices.
https://youtu.be/3P9MwvQBYb8
I think about this often, and I'd love to read others' responses. For me, the most connected to nature that I ever felt was while backpacking a portion of the Appalachian trail. Yet it wasn't while I was hiking, as I was too consumed with the weight of the pack to truly, truly enjoy the connection to nature. My connection occurred at night while sitting at my campsite barefoot. It was then that I felt (and understood) the power of grounding/earthing.
Now, I camp at a clothing optional resort. The place is crowded with other campers, tents, and RVs, though it has a hiking trail and some nice lookout points over nearby mountains and farmland. I love walking the campground property at night naked while looking up at the stars. It's a total trippy experience. Being naked in nature is such a beautiful and primal feeling, and when you do it at night, you feel so connected to the universe.
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I love hearing about little outings and adventures that make people feel connected to whatever image of "hippie life" they have in their brain.
We went to Hippie Fest at Sunny Rest in Pennsylvania...but since we go there every weekend and make a big effort to connect to nature and others, I'd say that we are frequently living somewhat close to the hippie ethos. Sunny Rest is a clothing optional campground, with a lot of great hiking nearby.
We were there on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There was a great turnout. If you didn't find a spot for your tent by noon on Friday, there was a good chance you wouldn't find a spot. There had to have been 2000 people on the property. I think the campground could have leaned a bit harder into music of the time period, but there was still a great vibe of peace, love, and good times.
This isn't the late 60s and early 70s, and everything about our society is different. Therefore, at least from my perspective, anyone trying to replicate the etire hippie stereotype (from music, to clothing, to politics, and overall mindset) is often just "playing hippie". But I do think that it is great to borrow from various elements of the hippies and add our own spin to it. One can be a "modern hippie" without trying to pretend that you found a time machine and came here from the year 1969.
With that said, where do you intersect with the hippies.
I have some pretty strong thoughts on this, but I'll wait to see what other people say before I chime in.
We were on a mountaintop today and thought it would be a great place to relax naked. There is an area at Sunny Rest that faces a gorgeous valley, but the view is only visible to people who have seasonal sites facing in that direction. Unfortunately, we are not friends with any of those people.
Do you know of an epic location where you can legally be naked?
I realize that there could be some disagreement about what would be a "hippie friendly" event, so we'll take a broad view here. It could be something that would appeal to the old school hippies of the 1960s and 1970s, right up to a festival that would attract the youth of today.
I have two to suggest. First is Hippie Fest at Sunny Rest resort in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. That is coming up in a couple weeks. The second is Sunburn (unofficial regional burn) at Penn Sylvan in Pennsylvania. Both are clothing optional resorts.
We currently attend a clothing optional resort but have also attended naked-only resorts. I prefer optional, though will probably switch over to a nude-only resort for proximity reasons in a few years.
How strict are the nude-only resorts with the nude-only policy? Although the naked mandatory ones I visited will make allowances for cold weather, does that also consider sun intensity? I'm pale, and I would have to stay indoors in the heat of the day (or if I got a bit sunburned) if visiting a naked-only resort. Do those resorts make allowances for when you are working at your campsite and would prefer protective clothing? What about if the mosquitoes are out, or if you are hiking and are concerned about ticks?
I'm ok with being naked most of the time, but there are definitely times when being clothed is more comfortable or convenient.
Friday night is the drum circle. Bring a drum or flow arts items. On Saturday, there will be music by the pool all afternoon, yoga, as well as vendors selling handmade jewelry, art, and more. At night, there will be a DJ on the deck. On Sunday, there will be a band poolside and a cornhole tournament. There are also "unofficial" events all weekend hosted by the guests. It's a fun weekend that is definitely worth the trip if you live within driving distance.
Note: This is a clothing optional resort. Clothing is optional everywhere except the pool. You must be naked at the pool.
Bring a tent or RV. They have rooms and cabins to rent, though they are pricey.
See you there!!!!
Edit: it is located in Palmerton, Pennsylvania
If you were creating your own day-long meditation and mindfulness retreat for yourself, what would you fill it with? What would your schedule look like?
I have always had attention issues. Since getting online and having a cell phone, they are worse than ever. I can't make it through a television show without getting distracted and moving onto something else. I can't read an article that is in print without getting distracted. I get distracted in the middle of a story that someone is telling me. My job requires a much higher level of attention than I can currently give.
With that said, I'm wondering if anyone has had success with meditation or other techniques.
I've actually had my own success a few years ago, and I'm so mad that I let it slip. My goal this summer is to get on the right path, so any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated. why do best with a set "plan", or course.
I spend a lot of time thinking about future fun events, future living arrangements, and places I'd like to visit and/or live....to the detriment of the current moment. This future daydreaming has helped me create many memorable experiences, but it has also made me less appreciative of right now.
This is particularly true of winters. I love summer and warm weather, and I spend the winters wishing I was in a warmer climate, planning what I'll do in the summer, and plotting to someday move to a warmer climate. I have to keep reminding myself that I can't stop living because the temperature is cold. And when I snap out of that fixation on the future, I have a great time.
We like random things that wouldn't make your TripAdvisor list. If someone is going to take a risk with their business or club, I'd like to reward them by attending. Too many businesses play it safe....so if you know anything that we should check out, please post it below.
We like random things that wouldn't make your TripAdvisor list. If someone is going to take a risk with their business or club, I'd like to reward them by attending. Too many businesses play it safe....so if you know anything that we should check out, please post it below.