Strats wrote something similar in one of her description - basically that LIEs have to be outside, if they start being homely it doesn't work anymore since it's not how they're supposed to be. Actually your LIE guy did exactly that - he moved away to do his own thing and since they are still married, technically he did the right thing.
I know a "old" LIE-ESI couple (in their 80s) the LIE worked until he was 75, now is almost blind, still otherwise in good spirits and health, he goes around and around in the neighborhood meeting people and walking around just so that he doesn't...stay at home lol.