It appears to me that Capt. M. and his wife have made peace with their departure tomorrow night. The farewell receptions / dinners they have attended lately made leaving this place very hard though and he jokingly said the other day that they were only rehearsing for the real departure...
It may very well be that they are a bit scared about what's expecting them in their home country after 34 years - but I don't know them that well. I wholeheartedly wish them both all the best!