I am currently dealing with some 'difficult' family members who are speaking badly about me. They are judgemental and small minded, yet I still love them, therefore I care (albeit minimally) about what they think.

Here is a summary of my situation: I am in my 20s living with my parents. I have a university degree but no 'real' job. For money, I do odd jobs and such. I get by comfortably. I am also a budding organic farmer, attempting to self sustain my own food supply. I have no ambitions of becoming the 6 figure income bullshit office monkey that I was trained to be. My parents are very supportive of my 'hippie' lifestyle and they also see the success I am having in my endeavours; it brings me and my parents great happiness in a way that most people would never understand. In other words, I am far from being a lazy, useless, unemployed, boomerang kid.

As one might suspect, my extended family members from suburbia do not understand my lifestyle/desires. The concept is completely out of their reach. The judge my lifestyle quite harshly (mostly behind my back). I have no problem telling them to 'fuck off' (due to minimal caring) but I feel there is a way I could make them understand, or at least see it in a positive light; at least to the point at which they would stop bad mouthing me to other people.

Should I waste my energy? and if I do waste my energy, what should I say? I am not overly good at dealing with this sort of person.

Description: These people are not stupid. They are clever in a sociopathic sort of way with genuine hints of positive human emotion here and there. They are very sarcastic and can be mean, but they do have a good side. They are selfish but capable of showing love. They are petty and materialistic as well.

Please help.

Also is anyone out there in a similar situation? Would love to hear how you deal with family shaming... Or whatever this could be called.

I know there will be trolls, so I welcome their advice as well, because they will allow me to see closer into the realm of the attitude they share with my relatives.