I need some advice please. I am currently finishing up my Masters degree and it has been my plan to go on to do a PhD, but now I'm unsure. The reason for doing a PhD was because I wanted to be an academic, however in the last few months I've met professors at conferences they have told me that currently there are very few new positions in my field and even fewer post docs. I am in my early 40s with 3 children and cannot move easily, which they told me was a problem, compared to other, younger, students. I have now been offered a job working in something I would enjoy, and provide our family with some economic stability, however I feel conflicted, like I am giving up a dream. My question is 'should I give in to economic reality and accept the job offer, or go for the dream of being an academic, even though the chances of this are getting slimmer by the year?