What have I been up to in the "real" world????

Oh man, this seems like a huge question.  Not knowing the specifics of your situation, it seems like you might want to explore the largest possible awareness you can muster before making your decision.  Exploring both sides of the possibilities may provide more and more ways of looking at things.  The issue of the needs of us and our loved ones is tricky.  In some ways I have had to measure my own needs against those of my husband and children over the years.  It's been a compromise, a back and forth movement.  Sometimes I have given his needs greater priority than mine, at other times equal, at other times less.  It seems every situation has a different answer.  Some things we can't compromise; other things require us to let go of such a defined sense of “self” or ego that just wants its own way without consideration of others.   I wish you much luck in exploring all the possibilities, being easy on yourself, and giving yourself as much time as you can to just “sit” among all the options.  Good luck!