The Hippie movement never intended to be a subculture. The goal of the classic counter culture movement that began in the 1960s was to make the whole world free for living in natural and communal peace, without the indentured labor and crass materialism that was becoming an issue with the youth of America.

Counter cultures go back to the dawn of major cultures and were nothing new at the time of tie dying, protesting a bad war, dumping the military-industrial complex and passing the joints.

One problem with the Hippie movement, as with most counter cultures, was that the whole world did not want to live in communal and natural peace. The other major problem was that the little sisters and brothers did not idolize the Jefferson Airplane, the dirt,  the devastating effects of drug abuse and the sometimes violent and impoverished lifestyles.

We were the earliest of the true Yuppies, and we learned quickly, from our older siblings experiences and examples. We learned that the realities of street and commune living were not what the “Summer of Love” had promised. We learned that having no job meant trying to bring up children in poverty. We learned that free sex spreads venereal diseases. We learned that a comfy retirement from a traditional job is preferable to an early death from drugs or exposure to a rough life.

The Hippie culture formed us and was built into us by the time that we were old enough to leave home and to pursue our more traditional and even pioneering paths in life.

We adored the Hippie fashions, fought for People’s Park, cheered the Panthers, were fascinated with Hoffman and Rubin and and protested the war with gusto. We learned how to tie dye while we learned about accounting, biology and computer programming.

We went to our jobs as the most educated generation ever. We were doctors, military officers, social workers, managers and business owners. We were the biggest generation of  “firsts” ever to happen. We were the first woman, the first African American, the first Hispanic and the first ever.

We established our lives with minds that were just right for getting diversity in the work place, ending Apartheid, accepting gay and lesbians (even in the military and on the sly), closing down the Cold War and building the future.

We worked to turn swords into plowshares, to build social programs, to build medicine, to grow the economy and to make the very stuff of technology that allows us to write and read articles like this one. And the Hippie culture lived in us still.

Then other counter cultures, the drug culture and the culture of corruption and materialism took over. We produced these counter cultures and we are living in them now, as the next generation finds itself more pushed out than dropped out into having to live frugally, communally, but not always in peace and love.

And when we return to Cal, walking up the last few blocks of University Avenue in Berkeley, we are taken back to the days. Those who look exactly like the originals populate the streets, making us wonder if we have been transported back in time. Then the flashing Androids and the gleaming net books remind us that we have returned to our origins.

Home in mind and spirit. Reminded of the greatest counter culture in history.