The modern world is a party everyone feels obligated to attend. Joe is the one who quietly slipped out the back door.

He's a middle-aged artist who has declared a personal rebellion against the noise. His life is a carefully curated masterpiece of analog pleasures, intentional routines, and the radical act of paying attention. By turning his back on pointless arguments, digital distractions, and the pressure to conform, he has achieved a state of quiet, sustainable joy. He's not a guru; he's just a man who has given himself permission to live an authentic life.

But is this peaceful existence a sustainable fortress or just a fragile shelter? When the outside world presents its greatest temptations and tests his resolve, Joe must decide what his quiet life is truly worth.

Part philosophical guide, part quiet manifesto, To Be is a story for anyone who has ever suspected that the secret to happiness isn't about adding more, but about stripping away the non-essential to find the profound joy of simply being.