A couple of years ago, we made a life changing decision to move away from a busy, sprawling city with millions of people to a smaller town of 50,000. It meant uprooting a life built over more than a decade. It was not a decision made lightly. However, it was one of the best decisions we have ever made.
John, Eva, and I are all so much happier. We don’t spend nearly as much time sitting in traffic trying to go to the grocery store or on a family outing. We don’t have to worry as much about a local lake or swim beach being packed by people so that we have to wait hours to launch a boat or have a relaxing family time.
All of us responded positively to less people and the hustle-and-bustle. There is a general heavy weight or angst that we experienced when living in a city and with lots and lots of people. In a real sense the ability to move at a slower pace, be less bombarded by advertising and marketing to buy-buy-buy, and less competition is palpable and truly feels as if a great weight has been lifted off our shoulders.
For John, I think this change has really been life changing. With the TBI and PTSD, he can more easily navigate daily life. With his limited amount of time before he starts having a fuzzy or bad brain day, he can get more accomplished. Where we were living, he would spend an hour slogging through traffic and chaos before getting to his doctor’s appointment or store, or fishing spot. He’d be exhausted by the time he arrived, making the outing a tremendous burden that had ramifications that trickled down to all aspects of his life and well being.
Now, he still gets tired and sometimes has to modify his to-do list for a given outing but he usually can get what he wants accomplished without it wiping him out. And this is helpful for the rest of us.
We were lucky enough to be able to make this move to a more rural area. I urge other couples to try to make as many changes as possible to slow down and simplify their own lives. It will make all involved more at peace and better able to deal with the ramifications of having a TBI.
TBI Spouse (and Others) 
This is wonderful. I have heard similar stories from several former clients and their spouses who were able to move to smaller towns, some to the towns where they grew up, some to places completely new.
Great post, My husband is also a TBI Survivor. We moved from a large metro area to a small coastal community of less than 6,000 people. It’s good here now that we are retired. My husband is doing much better and I feel as though I’m home at last.
That’s really good to hear. I’m still working but it’s okay. Fortunately my husband is high functioning. Although, there’s still times when it’s tough juggling it all.
Yeah Rob is high functioning as well, but not enough to be able to work.