When he buys a beach house on the Carolina coast, David Sedaris envisions long, relaxing vacations spent playing board games and lounging in the sun with those he loves most. And life at the Sea Section, as he names the vacation home, is exactly as idyllic as he imagined, except for one tiny, vexing realization: it's impossible to take a vacation from yourself. Sedaris sets his powers of observation toward middle age and mortality, that vertiginous moment when your own body betrays you and you realize that the story of your life is made up of more past than future.

"May 2018"--Title page verso.

Company man --Now we are five -- Little guy -- Stepping out -- A house divided -- The perfect fit -- Leviathan -- Your English is so good -- Calypso -- A modest proposal -- The silent treatment -- Untamed -- The one(s) who got away -- Sorry -- Boo-hooey -- A number of the reasons I've been depressed lately -- Why aren't you laughing? -- I'm still standing -- The spirit world -- And while you're up there, check on my prostate -- The Comey memo.