 What makes Gubelin an outlier in the present day?
They also had a banquet for him, complete with speeches by such bigwigs of the Department of Space Exploration as Academician Lofting Gubelin and Doctor Hans Girard-Perregaux. The gold watch idea had been that of Lofting Gubelin, which was typical, he being in the way of a living anachronism himself. In fact, Academician Gubelin was possibly the only living man on North America who still wore spectacles. Doctor Girard-Perregaux was convinced Gubelin would have even worn facial hair, had he but a touch more courage. Slumped in an autochair in the escape room of his Floridian home, Lofting Gubelin scowled at his friend. He said, "Nevertheless, both you and I conform with the present generation in finding it far more pleasant to follow one's way of life in the comfort of one's home than to be confronted with the unpleasantness of facing nature's dangers in more adventurous pastimes." Gubelin, half angry at his friend's argument, leaned forward to snap rebuttal, but the other was wagging a finger at him negatively. He was drafted into the working force reserves, served his time, and is now free from toil for the balance of his life. Girard-Perregaux was wagging his finger again, a gesture that, seemingly mild though it was, had an astonishing ability to break off the conversation of one who debated with the easy-seeming, quiet spoken man. Man has always paid lip service to adventure, hardships and excitement, but in actuality his instincts, like those of any other animal, lead him to the least dangerous path.
 He still wears glasses and value objects like the gold watch given to Si.
 He is much older than the rest of the population.  He refuses new operations that could improve his health.  His mind is still active, and he values hard work.  He still wears glasses and value objects like the gold watch given to Si.