Stay where you are. Money doesn't buy happiness.

You have to ask yourself what is the more important choice for you - staying where you are happy and satisfied or is the money more important to you?

Depends on whether you welcome change and challenge.....the option to move to industry (notwithstanding the remuneration)may add to your expertise and experience which, later on, may increase your skills and perspective which will improve your chances of becoming a professor once again.Which option will BUILD your career.....? When one is comfortable, it takes gumption to uproot and move on...complacency is not a career builder. You would not be closing the doors of Academia....they may be open even wider 10 years from now.

You have to examine the pros and cons - which im sure you have. Moving away doesn't necessarily mean severing all ties does it, so you'll still have the friendships you have now, and of course the opportunity to make more. The net these days keeps ppl very much in contact. As for the money side - depends what you are looking for in life. You mention in one answer that you'd like to write a novel. Certainly not seeing your friends as much will mean you have extra time on your hands to perhaps start your novel, and yes when you have ammassed enough money to retire on, you can focus on it full time. It might mean to make your life complete in the longrun - making sacrifices now will help you to realise this. Good luck with whatever decision you take

The way I look at it, if you are happy where you are, why move?

If you have a great job in a location you love and are happy with not being rich, as "you have enough" then you should consider staying put. However, if you desire a life where you don't have to worry about finding enough to pay your mortgage or whether you can afford to pay bills or put food on the table then I would consider, personally, making your fortune. You will make friends wherever you go and if not, you can afford to travel back to where your friends are. My opinion though and only you will know...

Depends what you want from life. If you want to join the rat race but have lots of money and no friends, then move. If you are truly happy with your life, then stay where you are. Just remember, if you decide to leave and dont like it, then its not so easy to turn the clock back. You may get your friends back but maybe not the job. Good luck :)

Take a sabbatical for a year. You'll never know unless you try. If you dont like it, you can quit. If your place doesn't offer sabbaticals : smaller universities in small towns have a hard time getting and keeping QUALITY professors, so you'll be able to get another job again.

duh be a millionare and make as much money as possible then move back....

Take the job, earn millions, then buy a nice home in the small town to visit on long weekends. Eventually I would retire back home in the beautiful small town.

Take the job and use the opportunity as research to add to your teachings when you get back, depending on your discipline as a professor. That way you won't feel as if you are leaving behind your true calling. One very important thing you haven't mentioned . . . the special people in your life. They are more important than money so be sure they fit into your new life and job. Good Luck!

Money is not a good motivator - if you do not have job satisfaction, then will you enjoy the job in the corporate world? What do you want to do? Can you see yourself in he corporate world? If so, then go for it, but if you are happy where you are, then stick with that, but be flattered that you were asked.

Stay where you are. Sounds like you are happy there.

The other option...if you have had a corporate job offer, most University towns LOVE to couple and often fund U-based research with matching private monies, such as various tech incubators, etc. It gives them more funding, more prestige, and makes the whole area more attractive to business too. Does your local community or U have something like that? Business people are literally a dime a dozen (and obviously not always successful, given the economic mess that has been authored recently) whereas brains are actual "talent", and if you have ideas, there are probably home-town business people who would love to work with you, so then you could have the best of both worlds, and not have to sell your soul for the corporate lifestyle, in some smelly urbanity. (I'm just a little biased!) :)

go for it, even if its just for about 5yrs, youd be a fool not to

If you don't take this chance, will you regret it, always wondering "what if?" Sometimes it's important to step out of your comfort zone, challenge yourself and see what you may learn about yourself that you'd have never known if you stayed in your college town. There is a lot of beauty in "ugly industrial" cities. There's a lot of variety, a lot more options for types of friends, leisure activities and experiencing diversity in general. Give it a shot. If you hate it there is no law that you have to stay. But give it a FAIR shot.

I would see if I could arrange some kind of telework situation. Try and spend most of my time in the small town, meeting via video conferencing, working online and flying in only when really necessary - or maybe spending a few days each month in the new place. Otherwise, I would stay put and be content.

follow your heart.

if you have enough means u think u can

You'll be prostituting yourself every time you pick up that big paycheck. If you don't have to do that, then don't. Do what makes YOU happy . . . not someone else's definition of happiness. :)

what are you waiting for...grab it then get rich and retire and go back to your simple life as you want it to be....

From one Prof to another, I too am a university professor (school of medicine). Nine months ago, I was pursued by a major medical university and accepted the position. At first, I was very happy. Within a matter of weeks, I realized it was not at all what I had envisioned or had been promised. I was wallowing in self pity as my life had changed significantly. In the meantime, my Fellows from the university whom I had spent the past 9 years with, were calling, e-mailing, etc. and I was being pursued by my former employer. Though I had made it loud and clear in the beginning that this move was "for keeps", they were unrelenting. After 8 weeks with my new university and about 4 days of negotiations with my former employer (I hadn't revealed my current state of misery, only that I was "listening" and that it would take a lot to get me to return), I was back. I must tell you, the terms of my return were even better than I had expected and ironically when I said "jump" they asked "how high?" If I hadn't left, I wouldn't be as happy as I am currently and on top of that, I received a hefty raise, better than I ever imagined. I don't know if this will help in your decision, but I wanted to share what happened with me. Here's to wishing you the best in your decision making.

I would take the job for a few years and then return to my normal life. Although life isn't about money, it surely helps if you don't have to think about it.

I would stay where I am. You wrote right into your question the way you feel about this decision. The town you are in is beautiful small, cozy sounding and you have enough. Then why are you looking? Isn't enough, enough? To choose money over the things you enjoy is a destructive decision. I have lived a very poor childhood, and some years as a wealthy adult. Money changes people, and not for the better in my eyes. Love where you live, love your job, and love yourself. Money never makes that better, just greener and colder.

If you are happy now, stay where you are. Money doesn't buy happiness and in fact can cause more grief . If you have enough, be happy with that!

Who needs friends right?? Haha nah jk. But it depends on how old you are. At least thats what i think. If your younger, why not take the job n make that paper for a while. Then move back to your small town n coast it ; )

Depends on what will make you happy. A billion dollars would make life easier for you (and all of us). But will it make you happy? The old saying is: money can't buy you happiness.

I think you're lying.

Get the university professor job. Money isn't always everything when you've got no friends.

If you're happy where you are, don't leave. Some things are more important than money, including geographic and social concerns. I made a choice similar to yours a few years back (though I didn't become a millionaire :)) and eventually I just ended up moving back to the smaller town because I was much happier there. The ugly industrial buildings made me long for the beauty of the country.

While I am assuming that your statement is of a rhetorical nature, I would suggest that you factor in a certain quality of life into the equation. Don't be so focused on making a living that you forget to make a life.

Stay where you are. If you are happy have friends and a scenic little village around you why move? On the other hand you could take the job and with the money buy a house back in the scenic little village for holidays and weekends?

If the job is 2 years or less-go for it. Longer-stay in your beautiful small town. Money isn't everything. Happiness is.