Ask HN: PhD or a job for recent 50-something grad

Successful entrepreneur, self-taught, currently in an earn-out that will last another 3-4 years. Decided to go back to school and get a Bachelors in CompSci/Data Science from a well-known university and will graduate in May. Took grad level courses and TA'ed which I enjoyed.

Do I continue on for a PhD in Machine Learning (specifically RL) or go back and get a job?

Door #3: do independent research during this period and then decide, but then I wouldn't be part of a face-to-face community which I find very satisfying.

Objectives: 1) Maintain healthy work/life/exercise balance 2) Make a significant contribution to this new field. 3) Set up good runway for the remaining 10-15 years of my career.

Thanks!