[FRIAM] Warring Darwinians for Glen, Steve

[Steven A Smith]

Nick -


> Nice thought, but I would have to ride on the bumper. 
>
>  
>
> What a time!
>

FWIW... you have referenced your own choice of clique-formation as a
"pod" which I believe exclusively? describes the second level of whale
(at least Orca) social organization.   (matriline -> pod -> clan ->
community).  Other whales (and porpoises?) also form pods I think, but
I'm not so sure if we ascribe (or recognize) larger clans for them?

I'm wondering if from an evolutionary psychologist point of view if
there is a "natural" way ( evidenced in ethnographic/anthropological
precedent) for us to form multi-scale clique structures which can
dissociate quickly as-needed during times such as this pandemic.  
Terrorist or deep-cover spy cell-networks seem to have this sorted
fairly well?

It seems natural (obviously) for a family group living under one roof to
form such a first order grouping...  and in your case if I read your
circumstance right, you have formed a 3 generation "pod" with one of
your children and spouse, and a grandchild who you may or may not live
under the same roof, but have chosen to "share the risk"?  

I've seen any number of opportunities *lost* to form such larger pods
(my sister's family separating into one couple and 3 singletons who do
not mix)...   but I suspect that there are plenty of examples along the
lines of extended families... where for example, a group of siblings
choose to maintain contact and support/allow contact among their
children (first cousins) in groups therefore of 5 or 10 or even as large
as 30 or 40, with some group-pressure to remain isolated *outside* of
that group... possibly even assign as small of a number as 2 or 3 who
are trusted to go out in the world and forage at the grocery or
hardware... possibly those with the best discipline around social
distance, PPE, etc.

I don't know how close the "clan structure" of Orcas is to that of
various (usually matrilineal?) first-nations clans, and if there is any
kind of useful parallel.  From my limited anthropology background, I
seem to remember that clan-structures provide a kind of formula for how
to "weave a community" of individuals without too much risk of creating
bad-blood (socially as well as genetically)?

This is perhaps thinner ice, but my own experience within my social
circles is that "the decider" (regarding style and level of isolation)
in most "pods" I know of is a woman...  not always the eldest, but one
who has significant dominance outside of such a pandemic...  a thought
leader in nuclear or extended family or perhaps neighborhood.  

One of my social-circle groups consists of a modestly isolated
"country-lane" of about 6 households of retirees and empty nesters.   So
roughly 12 individuals with roughly 3 in the high-age-risk (>80)
category and 1 > 70 with acute preexisting conditions.   The 3 high-risk
are men, and are supported in self-isolation by their (younger) partners
(2 women, one man), and there are two significantly dominant women in
the group who alternatively trigger social events among this larger pod
normally but have taken on a "policing" role amongst their neighbors,
making sure everyone has what they need but also shaming anyone who
considers what they believe to be "risky behaviour".   A less assertive
woman is also a practicing (semi-retired) nurse who seems to decline to
try to "manage" the rest of the lane even though she seems to be more
technically competent in this context.   One couple are Native American
(Picuris/Dine) and they have mostly left the pod/lane to rejoin the Dine
family-pod which I believe needs their influence/help in these times.  
They remain friendly but non-contacting with the lane when they are
there ( a few days ever week or two).    We are normally considered part
of their "clan" but have declined virtually all in-person contact,
allowing for a few socially-distanced meetups in the backyard with one
of the couples (BYOEverything).   The "lane" has a good dozen other
orbiters/clan-members like us who seem to have the same relationship to
that "pod"... 

Another of my extended social circle is an organic farm-complex that
consisted of 2 women in their early 60s, each with their own
home/aspect-of-farming and a full time tenant in a casita and a rotating
medley of temporary farm-help who either live for weeks or months *on*
the farm, or are CSA-trade workers who come in for a few hours here and
there to help with acute things like harvest/clean for market-day.   
The primary *farmer* recently took on a young couple (30ish) to whom she
is sharecropping... giving them her house and the fields she has built
over the last 10 years to "make what they will" of it with fresh ideas
and energy.   They were on their way here from Michigan when the
pandemic got hot...  they had "day jobs" on two other organic farms in
the area but after arriving self-isolated on the farm rather than risk
bringing something with them...  once past the two weeks (which was a
good time to start the farm-hand-off) they began to go to their
respective farms 5 days a week, social distancing/etc. while there, but
mixing it up more than the two women who own the farm.   The tenant is a
CNA who has only one (elderly woman) client.   What they have formed is
something of an Orca-like Pod  it seems...  with two matrilines, one
being much larger than the other.   The martiarch of the smaller
matriline is a retired nurse and is acutely careful about mixing... she
is effectively isolated *within* the larger pod as a unit of one.   The
more prolific matriarch has visited us a few times (to bring farm
produce/plantings and share a little socially distant palaver and a
sanitized beer while sitting >6 feet away in the sunlight.  

My own daughters live far enough away (Portland OR, Denver) that I have
not opportunity to "pod up" with them, but would very likely do
precisely that if they were closer.   Forming a pod of about 13 with 3
matrilines... though it would get tricky if Mary's family (3 children
and spouses and grandchildren) were closer as she/they would expect/want
the same... and perhaps true to form, her sons might polyp off to join
their wives pod/clan?

- Steve
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