It seems to me like where a period would be too strong and I want the clause after to be considered equally at the same time or possibly as a counterbalanced thing to whatever is to the left of it
If it were to parse it purely linguistically, it seems like not quite a list of things but perhaps a relevant after thought that a comma would be too weak for and a period too strong
A period doesn’t require that the preceding clause and following clause are closely related. A semicolon implies relation; they are closely related complete clauses. A comma doesn’t require they are complete clauses, but necessarily related as parts of the same sentence and requires a conjunction between clauses you connect with it.