Caveat: I am getting $90K, just got my clearance and am currently working for a security/intel agency, collecting some data for research and personal investigations (super-duper-puper secret). therefore I pretend to be an immigrant and type to mimic a thick foreign accent (albeit it comes out as fake), to not arouse any suspicions that I am one of the
Orwellian Triple Hermetic Secret Worshippers. Ok, I am just kidding (but someone will respond to above, taking it very seriously).
As to question you asked.... I created a separate thread where I asked people to share their experiences returning to Canada after lengthy absences. However, very few (if any) PRs that I addressed responded to queries about the length of absence and their experiences at the border.
Instead, some regular members (Orwell would call them
the thought police) jumped on my thread using it as an opportunity to personally attack and judge me (not having faintest idea who I am) for things I haven't even done or intended to do.
I have a feeling (though I might be wrong) that genuine PRs in predicament or anxious about their cases are apprehensive to post or share their experiences, for fear of being personally attacked and judged (some may even be fearful of possible long arm reach of CIC, however founded or baseless such fears might be). See my original thread here:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/have-canadian-pr-never-lived-in-canada.747259/
In general, if you are in breach of RO and apply for travel document or PR card with CIC, they will strip you of your status and if you are in Canada they will initiate your deportation (you will have short window to appeal that and have IAD decide your case).
If you are in breach of RO and have PR card, you can buy an airline ticket, fly to Canada and hope that border officer waves you in. If he decides to examine your residence in and out of Canada, he may (upon individual discretion) let you in without filing a report, or report you (which will trigger the deportation proceedings, and you will have a chance to appeal that).
If you are in breach of RO and don't have a valid PR card, everything from POE and onward will be the same, but you will now have to figure how you can get to Canada. If you have no PR card (but are holding PR status) you can't board a plane to Canada (unless you are a US Citizen). So, you will have to get to Canada via land border, which means you will have to first get into the US if you are coming from overseas.
As to length of absence, anecdotal evidence suggests that during pandemic the shortage of several months in RO (while countries were locked down and travel was restricted) are somewhat overlooked by border agents, but this may have changed or will change shortly. Again, there is very scant evidence from actual PRs who went through the process (but a lot of pontification from notorious
thought polices of the forum).
Good luck to you and your husband.