Are we there yet?

In the short story "I Hope I Shall Arrive Soon" Philip K. Dick illustrates a futuristic story about, Mr. Kemmings, a man caught in space and forced to live within the confines of his own mind for ten years. At first, he is given memories to relive but once those memories become tainted by his guilty conscience, he is only allowed to look toward his seemingly unattainable future. After living out this future memory of arriving to the planet so many times he cannot believe it when he is actually there.

"'I'm going to try reliving the part with the cat,' he said, 'and this time not pick up the cat and not let it get the bird. If I do that, maybe my life will change so that it turns into something happy. Something that is real. My real mistake was separating from you. Here; I'll put my hand through you.' He placed his hand against her arm. The pressure of his muscles was vigorous; she felt the weight, the physical presence of him, against her. 'See?' he said. 'It goes right through you'" (373).

This moment represents Mr. Kemmings disillusionment and confusion towards the present. He has relived this future moment so many times that he cannot even tell when the real moment comes. Mr. Kemmings places his hand on Martine and thinks it goes completely through her. In this moment Mr. Kemmings cannot discern between reality and memory. He is left completely confused and unable to live out his current life because of his obsession with the past. The inability to distinguish between memory and reality imprisons him within himself and ultimately within his own altered reality.

Can Mr. Kemmings ever overcome the obstacle of living within his own memory? Are we all somewhat trapped within our own disillusioned realities?