The (Re)Gilded Age

The (Re)Gilded Age follows Alex, a young man grappling with adulthood and the fading promises of the American Dream. Two years into a stagnant gap year, Alex works a dreary job managing retirement plans, surrounded by financial anxieties and unfulfilled dreams. His personal life unravels when his girlfriend, tired of his aimlessness, gives him an ultimatum: find direction, or she's moving on. Instead of rising to the challenge, Alex ends the relationship, retreating into his comfort zone.

When a friend invites him to help sail a boat from Portland to San Francisco, Alex seizes the chance for escape. On the journey, he realizes he doesn't need to conform to anyone's vision of success. With his late grandmother's car waiting in San Francisco, Alex decides to embark on a cross-country road trip, seeking to rediscover America and redefine the American Dream.

Inspired by classic road narratives, Alex meets van-lifers, activists, retirees, and disillusioned workers while documenting his journey. But his lack of self-awareness often exposes his own flaws, turning the trip into a journey of personal growth as much as exploration. His grand plans unravel, leaving him to confront reality-and himself.

By Christmas, Alex arrives in New York, hoping to reconnect with his estranged brother. Their tense reunion culminates in a heated argument, forcing Alex to face his emotional detachment. Wandering the city on New Year's Eve, Alex has an epiphany: the American Dream isn't about perfection-it's about striving, failing, and daring to try again.

By journey's end, Alex has changed-not into who he thought he'd be, but into someone more grounded and self-aware. Giving away his car to a struggling family, he returns home with a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper understanding of life's imperfections.

Poignant and deeply human, The (Re)Gilded Age is a story about ambition, identity, and the beauty of imperfection, told through Alex's sardonic yet hopeful perspective.