“It was good to get your letter. It must have taken some effort to find my address, and I appreciate you taking the time to write and inquire after an old friend.

“I remember you telling me that in the future no one would be sending letters anymore, certainly not hand-written ones. Fewer people would be talking over the phone, either. Everything would be text messaging and email in weird symbolic code. You could be right, but I don’t know and don’t really care. I got rid of my computer, my email accounts, the television and my cell phone, although I keep a land line for emergencies and a radio because I enjoy listening to classical music. I thought I could finally disappear, which is what I’ve wanted to do for a long time.

“The Government knows where I am. I’m on Medicare and collect Social Security. It’s not like I didn’t pay into it for almost 40 years. But you found me as well, and I’m thinking now that’s a good thing. It provides an occasion to justify my behavior to someone other than myself.”

Read more on one man’s attempt to stay healthy and sane in today’s world. Get The Drift.