"hippies amount to nothing"

The happiest people I know is a group of 6 to 10 people who live in a four bedroom apt. on Myrtle Beach. I say 6 to 10, because a few seem to come and go. They all work part time, minimum wage, laid back jobs that are close by. They all contribute to rent and food and necessities. They don't spend much on clothing, because nothing more than work attire and some cheap swim trunks and bathing suits are all that they require. The original six dwellers collaborated funding and bought a used minivan in case anyone should need to travel further than walking or biking distance. The house rules are pretty simple: Conduct yourself in a humane way towards yourself and others...that's it. You would think that a large number of people like that living in such close quarters would be chaotic, but I don't know that I've ever heard any of them quarrel at all. Most of the time they are outside reading in hammocks, hanging out at the beach with friends, surfing, swimming, volleyball and sometimes they have cookouts in the back yard with music and dancing. Society would probably tell you that these people are "hippies" and will amount to nothing in life. Let's look at that term closely "amount to nothing" a term used by people buried to their eyeballs in debt, two mortgages on a house and finally done with their life of high blood pressure and bankruptcies, when that final stroke blesses them with death. Their children are left with the memory of parents they barely got to know, because they were always working or engaged with the current runoff between republicans and democrats. I realize that not everyone can work at convenience stores and live on the beach, nor would everyone want to. Maybe your ambition drives you to the mini mansions and luxury automobiles and as long as you're not killing yourself for the materials you acquire, then good for you. I am however saying that if you prefer the life on the beach or anywhere that you find peace in a more simple, less materialistic life, there is nothing wrong with that either. Society calls them hippies, but if you ask THEM what they are, they will tell you "Happy". To me that's worth more zeros than you could possibly put on a paycheck.