The author reflects on 13 months of sobriety, noting a shift from the intense focus of the first six months to a more mundane, stable phase. He describes a cocktail bar in London he loved but can no longer name, and discusses how his initial outreach after writing 'Six Months Sober' had a tangible impact on friends and family, some of whom reduced their drinking. A friend sent him a 6-month sobriety chip as a joke, which he keeps on his desk.

He expresses frustration that the 'One Year Sober' follow-up lacks new material, as the initial benefits of sobriety have plateaued. While he still sleeps well and thinks clearer, his reintroduction of soda has slightly increased his waistline, though his partner Nicole still finds him attractive. He compares the feeling of stability after turbulence to the relief of smooth air after a flight, noting that the first six months of sobriety felt like driving through Nebraska—flat and uneventful, but a time for deep reflection.

The author critiques the negative language surrounding alcohol, referencing the US Surgeon General's recent review and terms like 'under the influence,' which he feels are overly negative. He argues that everyone is under the influence of various things, such as news, jobs, and age, and that alcohol's absence in his life is still felt daily, but not as intensely as in the first six months.