What does countercultural actually mean? There hasn't been a universal culture since the Boomers more or less, so you need to pick something to counter.
Hmm, I think there are some kinds of universal cultural expectations that the Deep Springers I know have tended to defy.
Imagine someone went to Harvard, you'd expect that they have a classic high paying industry job.
But instead they are a farmer.
Or it's standard in the culture to be married, but the vast majority of Deep Springers are not.
I agree countercultural is overly vague. At the same time, its hard for the mainstream culture to understand what they take for granted until they come across people who are explicitly unaffected by it.
Farmer is a rich person job - it’s better to think of them as landlords or people running a tax evasion scheme on the side. Median farmer in the US is a multimillionaire.
Actually the one Harvard Law grad I know draws anime porn.
Yes, they are brilliant.
Yes, they are hilariously weird and counter-cultural.
The college is absolutely gorgeous. I would cherish the opportunity to go again.