Homo Domesticus

I have come to realize why my first marriage failed. I was trying to transform my perfectly good young husband into homo domesticus, or at least someone whose habits would have suited me better. I was ignorant at the time. I didn’t know then, what I know now, that each person just wants to be himself or herself, take it or leave it, don’t be always suggesting improvements.

Anyway, when I am out on my walks about town, or shopping, I often have opportunities to spot variations on the male theme.

Homo domesticus: He can be aged anywhere between about 35 and 70 years of age. He is with his wife. Mated for life. They are wearing similar clothing, same type of footwear, same type of pants, exact same type of jacket. They are similar in height, and, most telling, he has had a recent haircut. Far from unkempt, he is kempt. He is not looking around. His eyes are looking forward. And yes, they are remarkably alike, if not in appearance exactly, but in demeanor. They are on the same page. They are One.

Homo feral: He is definitely on the wild side. He is at least 50 years of age. He has long greying or grey hair, possibly in some type of a ponytail and at least a major mustache. A baseball cap to deal with the hair-thinning issue. Probably glasses, and possibly a cigarette dangling from his lips. He is alone. No one tells him what to do. He is channeling his inner rock star, his inner rebel. If you say Hi to him, he will look up, focus, smile and say Hi back.

Homo juvenilia: He is far too young to have made it into either of the above two categories. He has extremely thick hair, and lots of it. He is tall, strong, the world is his oyster. He is full of confidence and hope. He will gladly help you with your heavy whatever in the store, and it will be his idea. He might be with his pretty young partner, but he is still an individual.  He has not lost any of his drive and self-sufficiency yet.

Homo Intractabilus: He is anywhere between 40 and 100. He was never fully domesticated, nor was he ever driven to the outside. He knows who he is, and he is tough inside and out. He is still looking around. What a guy.

Homo honorabilis:  Most commonly found in groups. These guys are all over seventy, and they hang around in clumps, talking and just standing around. Conversation is desultory.  They are not currently on any assignment, except possibly waiting. They attract one another with some kind of old guy magnetism. Some kind of strength in numbers. If you speak to one, they will all swing their heads in your direction, the better for lip-reading. Oh, so lovable.