John is glad she considers it a step up rather than a step down, because he knows not everyone in the world would be so willing to take that kind of risk. Carter might have, but he'd been prepared to give this life up for Jessica, knowing it wasn't something he could put her through, knowing she'd never have been happy. He sometimes worries about that with Karen, not wanting her to be doing something she isn't happy with, but he doubts very much she would. She's not inclined not to speak her mind, it's one of the things he loves so much about her.

"I've never lived with anyone else period," he admits. "Unless you count staying in the library with Harold now and then, which I don't."

This is very different. It's closer to the life he's always wanted and never thought he would be allowed to have.