I was shopping at Loew’s Hardware last Sunday to pick up some things for our new home in Austin, Texas, having just moved back after 26 years in greater Chicago. I was with my son, who had turned four a few days before and is already interested in tools and building materials (and cars and construction vehicles. Total dude). I had trouble finding magnetic fasteners for curtain rods, so I was waiting for the store associate to finish with another customer. I couldn’t help but notice that this other customer — a guy about 10 years younger than I am...