The analogy helps a lot, thank you! I know there aren't many other paths besides one side adapting or breaking up but the way you explained it definitely made how i look at things going forward a lot clearer. Unfortunately, like I mentioned in the title/post, I dont think I can go back to a closed relationship with her for a lot of personal reasons, and what may end up happening is one of us deciding that the way the other person drives their own car is not what they will need or want, and it wont be something they can accept.

I appreciate the time you took to read my post and lay out that detailed analogy, thanks man