I think he is saying that he does not want divorce per se, even if de facto separated, which is not a formal obligation. He realizes that his disabled wife needs health insurance - that deserves appreciation.

pixielouwho - it seems that his relationship or the beginnings of a relationship with the woman for whom he fixed computers was an ego-protecting "sour grapes" kind of thing. In his mind you threatened complete separation, beyond separate bedrooms. He was therefore facing - in his mind - being an ex husband whose wife has abandoned him. Hence a third party - another woman - to say "sour grapes" and salvage the ego, "save face", etc., as if it had been his initiative to leave the marriage and not yours, as if he were the one making choices and decisions and not you. It was an attempt to hold onto an illusion of power.