The Narcissism of Small Differences

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Joe Keen and Ana Urbanek have been a couple for years, navigating the lulls and temptations of their relationship while remaining unmarried, childless, and mortgage-free, adhering to their Midwestern values. Approaching forty, they find themselves in jobs that no longer resonate with them, experiencing vastly different levels of success—Ana thriving while Joe flounders. They exist in a limbo between mainstream and alternative culture, sincerity and irony, achievement and stagnation. Set against the backdrop of Detroit in 2009, a city in transition, the narrative explores the dilemmas faced by an aging creative class. It poses questions about outgrowing irony, the implications of childlessness, and the concept of selling out. More than a comedy of manners, it delves into the compromises we make for survival—financial, moral, and personal—and examines the impact of these choices on our identities. With a blend of humor and poignancy, the story captures Joe and Ana's journey together, exploring their relationship, communities, careers, and their quest for an authentic life that reflects their true selves.