I don't want to sway you, but you just stated what YOU want. ..."Or taking the summer program at the school where I work now, which I do want to do. The total pay will be slightly lower, but it will also be a shorter day and fewer weeks...."
About the Money side of things, please consider looking up a book called "how starbucks saved my life" About a very wealthy marketing exec who loses it all only to find himself in the process. It's a true story. It's a small book and can be read in a day.
me: 47, W:49 M 16.5 years T 17 years Three kids - D17,D14, S13 Heart 2 heart about M 11/8/13 Bomb drop 11/29/13 W moved out 12/5/13 I Retained L 2/20/14 D filed 3/17/14