Wow.. what an excellent episode! One of the best stand-alone TV episodes or short films that I've seen in a long time. I just watched it and need to get to sleep but want to get these stream of thoughts out there.

The idea of true joy vs diluted happiness. The man would give up a fake existence to accept life as it is.

He quit running from his problem once he realized what it was like without it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder?

It's interesting that even the wife didn't seem fulfilled when the son was erased as was alluded when they discussed what it would have been like to have a child.

Life isn't perfect but it's real and perhaps that in and of itself can give way to a profound joy.

The perfect city isn't so perfect once you start to look behind the curtains. Don't we often get jealous of others lives? What appears perfect to you may be feigned happiness.

Another interpretation I thought of the episode is that it's an allegory of addictions. Once the man started visiting the town he started to push away those close to him. He even abandoned his friend/co-worker. This often happens with addictions. He used the town to escape his reality. He used it as a coping mechanism. He didn't really tell anyone about visiting the town. Not necessarily hiding it but also not being open about it. He thought it provided joy but found out it was only joyous when he was there and the joy dissapated when he was away or looked outside of it.

Sorry for the tired rambling thoughts. What did you think of this episode?