What has the dining room in his family home come to symbolize for Leper, and what does it represent in contrast to the army life he has just left?

The dining room seems to symbolize the freedom from having to figure things out, other rooms require thought, which leads to more problems.

“You aren’t lost for something to do in dining rooms. It’s in the living room where people can’t figure out what to do with themselves. People get problems in living rooms.”