What's with all the "hippies" in Manitou Springs?

[Badger]

Now before someone goes off on some tangent about "transients", "homeless", and tries to slam me for making what would seem like a non-PC comment, listen up:

I'm talking ACTUAL hippies here, you know the whole "peace, love, recycle" bit. Not homeless, they seem to couch surf and apparently CHOOSE this lifestyle for whatever reason.... to each his own really, I couldn't care less but one of my questions is, why Manitou? What the hell draws them here?

Tried my damnedest to relate it to something I vaguely understand such as Sturgis, however, I've never been to Sturgis and have ZERO desire to go.... been to Daytona several times in the past, basically its the same ol' shit different venue and of course..... people. Not a people person so I'm thinking that is where the answer to my question resides.

From what I'm seeing, Manitou has some pricey stuff.... the hippies made it very apparent by asking us for our food in the wife's take out box, that they didn't have money to afford it.... (yeah that didn't go well at all, I'm VERY food aggressive). But their dog was very well fed, kind of fat actually so he's not missing any meals. Seriously, I can't see a logical reason for them to want to hang out in a town where even a bottle of water runs around $4.50...... we brought our own anyway though.




Badger

[Zundfolge]

Manitou has a history of "alternative spiritualism" (from a combination of all the indian tribes that wintered in the area for centuries and the various springs in the area with their "healing waters") ... I think that attracted the initial wave of hippies in the late 60s early 70s and then it just became hippie enclave.

Some of those hippies grew up to be good capitalists while keeping a veneer of Hippie Milieu (happens in most hippie enclave tourist areas) so that's why its expensive there.

I'd be willing to bet that most of the young hippie types that panhandle and beg for food there come from middle to upper middle class families and have plenty of money but see begging as part of the hippie lifestyle (eschewing materialism)

[Delfuego]

You must be new here...
Hippies and dirtbags were there long before the yuppies.

[Zundfolge]

Hippies and dirtbags were there long before the yuppies.
Most of what we call "yuppies" are just Hippies that grew up and became capitalists.

That's why we use terms like "BMW Bolshevik".

[jerrymrc]

I think the first time I went to Manitou Springs was around 1980. I kept looking for the fence we must have passed through.

I felt like I was in a sanatorium. When I moved to the west side in 93 I used to go there often. Only place in the area I have seen a BMO (black moving object)[Beer]

[HoneyBadger]

Speaking of people in Manitou.... Has anyone seen the "superman" guy lately? Over the past few years, I've sporadically seen a guy walking around downtown Manitou Springs in adult diapers and a cape. I can't remember seeing him at all this year.

There's also a guy who frequently walks around town with a parrot on his shoulder and he legitimately has conversations with it by asking it yes/no questions.

[Ah Pook]

According to Hippy.com, MS is a hippy haven.

www.hippy.com-Manitou Springs (http://www.hippy.com/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=24)

Sadly, my town is also on the list also.

[brutal]

Just tell em to get a fuckin jerb.

Damn dirty hippies.

[Ah Pook]

The local tie dyer is selling shirts this summer.


Yes I am a local.
No I will not buy you a bag.

[cebeu]

"...wave of hippies in the late 60s early 70s and then it just became hippie enclave."

I remember that, I was younger, maybe 8-10 years old but I recall the shit-loads of hippies there 70' to 74', wearin' Jesus sheets and bare-footed, interesting times, a high-altitude mini Haight-Ashbury thing going on for awhile. I also remember a gaggle of freaks living in that cave on the west end of town one summer in the early 80's.



http://www.google.com/url?source=imglanding&ct=img&q=https://www.boonville.k12.mo.us/schools/LSE/academics/PublishingImages/peace-sign1.jpg&sa=X&ei=BDQ4UMz0OJKo9gTrg4CwDw&ved=0CA4Q8wc&usg=AFQjCNFEXdVs56mgSh8mmY9I9HXJxlpOpA

[Badger]

Fortunately it sounds like we'll get to miss Mr. SuperDiaper. It has been an amazing week though and an awesome experience with all we've done.... even though the hippies were a bit disturbing/confusing to me. The vast majority of them seem to quickly avert eye contact which seemed highly amusing and entertaining to my wife. "I just don't look friendly" she says.... which is pretty much true. So aside from them, the scenery was great, the caves, tightrope walks, horse back ride, history, cliff dwellings, etc.. great time. But it will be great to get back home to Bailey.

While I may never fully understand the hippy attraction to this area, Zundfolge's post really got the mental gears turning. [Beer]

Badger

[ChunkyMonkey]

I think the first time I went to Manitou Springs was around 1980. I kept looking for the fence we must have passed through.

I felt like I was in a sanatorium. When I moved to the west side in 93 I used to go there often. Only place in the area I have seen a BMO (black moving object)[Beer]

How do you know he/she wasn't a ninja??

[jerrymrc]

How do you know he/she wasn't a ninja??

Never saw a Ninja in the sandbox but saw lots of BMO's It was sad to go down to a lake and see dad and the kids playing in the water and the "rock" just sitting there on shore.

If I ever seem to dislike the muzzy religion now ya know why.[Rant1] The only saving grace in the US is the sheer number of ex solders that will know first hand how it works and hopefully will take steps to prevent the spread.;)

[20X11]

Here is an interesting article on controlling Hippie outbreaks...
http://www.dba-oracle.com/humor_preventing_hippies.htm

[firefighter238]

Anyone seen the REALLY OLD long gray haired guy wearing a homemade kilt with a 1911 strapped to his leg? He's quite the sight.

[Birddog1911]

I've shot the shit with him a few times; nice guy.

I saw a kid, no shit, dressed in all black and calls himself "Darkenss". He was rather embarrased when his dad dropped him off in their Bentley! I couldn't make this up.


Anyone seen the REALLY OLD long gray haired guy wearing a homemade kilt with a 1911 strapped to his leg? He's quite the sight.

[TDYRanger]

Most of what we call "yuppies" are just Hippies that grew up and became capitalists.

That's why we use terms like "BMW Bolshevik".


Love the BMW Bolshevik; great turn of phrase and way accurate. Please go to your local Whole foods and see for yourself. Or even better go to the Cherry Creek "farmers market" and watch the revolution start!!