Dear Hooped,
you sound a very wise man with a very wise supporting lady :>
It's nothing to do with age life, as you know from being on SR even the young ones sometimes feel like there is nothing to live for and life is a pain...
Once you get back on your feet why not take your lovely wife on a once in a lifetime holiday somewhere, a cruise down the Nile? now that I would like very much too :>
Good luck with it all and I can't wait to read your progress.