How To Deal When You Are The "Hippie" In Your Group Of Friends

  Let me say this: if every single one of your friends is exactly like you, then you need to make a lot more friends. Having friends who are different opens you up to other interests and makes things much more exciting. That being said, it can sometimes be difficult to be on the same level with your other friends when you celebrate counterculture and they celebrate, well, current culture. Not knocking this, by the way; if you want to be hip, go right ahead, and more power to you. But if you find yourself to be the odd-man-out during a few gatherings (i.e, being the "dirty hippie"), then here are a few tips to help avoid certain conflicts and keep those relationships strong.

1. Accept your differences. Pretty obvious, but it should be said anyway. "To each their own" and all that, you know? Maybe you don't have a Smartphone and they do. Maybe you listen to Agnes Obel and Lykke Li while they blast The Killers. The point is, you are not entirely the same, and that is a good thing, really. This does not mean that you are better than they are, or vice versa. 
2. Meet them halfway. Building off of #1, once you accept your differences, you should find your common ground and expand upon that. What are the things that you share with one another? (There has to be something!) Find those things and share related experiences. For example, if you both love a certain director or movie genre, make a date to go see such a film once it comes out. More material to work with translates to better and stronger bonding. 
3. Don't let the friendship be "one-sided". In other words, you both have to contribute equally, and recognize each other's needs and boundaries. Your friend should be considerate if you are a vegan, and you should remember to take the incense burning down a notch when they visit if it gives them a headache. Neither one should be dominating the "taking" or "giving" side of the relationship. 
4. Only answer questions when they ask. Sure, we love to talk about what interests us, especially if it's recently acquired and exciting as hell. But seriously, people will stop wanting to hear about that new existential philosophy book you read the first time after you have gone over it in detail. Don't interrupt your friends, and don't dominate the conversation by steering it back in your direction. This can be difficult, as some counterculture people can't help themselves when they go on and on about being a nonconformist. But trust me, it is possible to keep this under control. 
5. Introduce them to the culture lightly, and sparingly. Also, have them introduce their stuff to you.  Nobody likes the person who only talks about their interests all the time, or how those certain interests are superior to those of anyone else in the room. The relationship has to be balanced, as demonstrated in #3; it has to be equal through giving and taking from each other. Does your friend like football? Then watch a game with him. In return, you could introduce him to the new craft fair and show him the certain qualities of each type of incense.