The hippy culture was born four decades ago in California, New York, and London. Those of us who were alive then have a lot to tell. Many writers have acknowledged hippies’ contributions to society.

Hippies created a Modern Renaissance where social innovation flourished. This site not only preserves and celebrates this legacy; but outlines clear steps that people of all ages can take to make this world a safer and happier place.

One of the hallmarks of the sixties involved the way young people questioned the status quo through nonviolent protests. Young people were no longer willing to believe something as being true simply because parents, schools, churches, or the government told them so. There was a clear sense of individualism and democratic dissent.

Being “Hip” refers to being in the know (socially and spiritually aware) and in the moment. It is not a matter of age or appearance, but attitudes, values and behavior (it’s like being “Cool.”) Hippies question authority and hypocrisy -- while respecting the earth and other cultures. Hippies value and practice creative arts, lifestyles and enterprises.

During the sixties, most of the hippies were white, middle class kids. Some of us came from well-off backgrounds. Today the hip movement involves a rainbow of people. Millions of people practice the hip lifestyle at least part of the time. For example, the executive who follows Phish shows on weekends.

Being hip is about attitude and style; not age or appearance. There is a hippy or hipster in each one of us waiting to break free. Find out how hip you are before or after reading this part of the site. You will learn about the Seven Habits of Highly Happy Hippies in another part of this site. You also will be inspired and enabled to Take Action.

My goal here is to describe how anyone can carry the flag. History has demonstrated that it only takes a small number of committed people to make a difference. The key to success for a movement of this magnitude is making sure every one’s voice can be heard. Fortunately, we now have the benefit of modern technology, such as the Internet, to make organizing easy and efficient.