Living authentically

I read an article recently about this hippie couple spending years renovating a rundown cottage in Adirondacks into their dream home- a psychedelic, kitschy paradise with a pond and acres of open wooded land that they used to host frequent gathering of their friends. The woman who was part of this crazy couple- who by their own admission, nearly froze to death the first winter in this house with no heating they bought with their life savings- made a living out of stitching rags to make clothing and selling it on Etsy. What struck me about the details of her life was that even though she had lived what was obviously a very unconventional and financially uncertain life, she seemed to be living out her most authentic self. Her aesthetic, her home, her work, her travels and her relationships reflected the values she cherished the most.
It made me wonder- do we trade our most authentic selves and the values dearest to us for financial security and social acceptance? Are the eccentric people that we know, who seem to be living their lives so much differently than the rest of their peers, on to something?