Quite possible. I, however, took it to mean that he simply didn't WANT to go home because it was a place filled to overflowing with memories of his wife.

It made him unbearably sad just to refer to her in casual conversation (remember the hotel scene); he probably couldn't stand the thought of spending time in the place where he had lived so happily with her.

That movie (I should say, rather, that character) breaks my heart.

I didnt think about that. I guess he had to get a paycheck somehow. Maybe it was his wife's death that made him stay away for long periods of time.

@SueDNim said:

Quite possible. I, however, took it to mean that he simply didn't WANT to go home because it was a place filled to overflowing with memories of his wife.

It made him unbearably sad just to refer to her in casual conversation (remember the hotel scene); he probably couldn't stand the thought of spending time in the place where he had lived so happily with her.

That movie (I should say, rather, that character) breaks my heart.

Once the reveal is made, it DOES make him one of the saddest characters in cinema.

Oddly enough, my kids watched it for the first time and halfway through my son guessed Del's wife had DIED...kids nowadays don't miss a beat!

As for Del being homeless..I'm guessing YES, he was, probably spending whatever money he had saved traveling around aimlessly, making a few occasional bucks selling shower curtain rings (lol), and just running away from the heartache of losing his wife. The thought of him sitting in that train station on Thanksgiving evening all alone... ..pardon me while I go cry now...