Hi everybody, I feel like this is an odd place to post, but it doesn't quite fit IWantOut and I feel like you guys will be likely to have some experience in this situation. I follow TEFL because although I'm not teaching English overseas, I am teaching a language I'm fluent in.

In about a week, I'll be moving to Japan for a year. My wife of 14 years is staying behind. All throughout the application and hiring process - which has been almost six months - we've talked about it, and everything has been cool. But now it's really close, and the past few weeks have been getting harder. She is very plainly sad that I am leaving, and she is excited about coming to visit and happy I get to follow a dream, but she has said "there's nothing good about you going" and I am really feeling awful.

I feel like this works two ways for each of us. She'll be surrounded by familiar things, which is comforting, but my absence will be more keenly felt when I'm not there on the couch or in the bed beside her. For me, I'll be in a new place having new experiences, which can be scary to do alone, but I'll also be distracted just by the everyday task of getting along in a foreign culture.

I don't know what to do. I can't really ask friends, because I am so busy preparing to leave that all my social interactions are online, and my Japanese employer has made it clear that they are watching my social media presence and I don't want them to think I'm a risky hire . So I'm coming here, even though you guys don't know me or my wife, because I hope maybe someone here has had a similar experience.

I'm not worried that the relationship will end - we've been together for 14 years. Things might change a bit, but probably for the better. What I am worried about is the guilt of leaving her behind. She doesn't want to even think about it, but I'm thinking maybe I should sit down and talk with her, just once, even though it's hard.

So anyway, your tips, advice, and even just stories are welcome. Even if you haven't had a similar experience, your thoughts are still welcome. I just wanted to discuss it with people who might have been there before, or might be there someday.

tl;dr - Leaving wife of 14 years behind to teach in Japan for a year, she is sad. Feel guilty even though she's happy I can follow a dream. What do I do?