Yeah, I've been there, noodle. I don't envy the large estates that I run across; I figure it's just more to clean and maintain. However, I feel incredibly envious when I see a home with a large yard. I live in a major city where that sort of space probably comes at a premium that is out of my budget, if it even exists.
Rusty, you're amazing for taking your friend to his appointments. I'm sure it means the world to him. I wish we had better public transportation throughout the US, including an easy-to-use option for those who have disabilities.