I can't claim any authority on Buddhism whatsoever so I'm afraid this will be fairly superficial in that regard. However, one of the more central tenets to attaining the state of bodhi and thereafter nirvana requires the rejection of the Ten Fetters, including belief in an individual self (or
sakkāya-diṭṭhi). (Isn't Wikipedia great for filling gaps in terminology?
) On that basis, therefore, embracing Buddhism in the fullest sense is, as with many other religions, something which requires letting go of a large number of plans, ideas or aspirations for the future and following a set path. It's the same as Christian monasteries, for example, or indeed any situation where one dedicates oneself to a vocation - there will inevitably be sacrifices. As such, it comes down to how strongly you feel about the tenets of Buddhism and the extent to which you want to adopt those tenets in your life...and at the risk of carrying out a real cop-out, that's something only you can decide. The one thing to bear in mind is that just as not all Christians are monks (or nuns) and not all Muslims are imams (and so on and so forth for Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Wicca etc.), being Buddhist does not mean you have to become a monk and decamp to a monastery for the rest of your life. It's a choice you can make, but not one you have to - it's entirely up to you.
Hope that helps and isn't just a well-intentioned ramble (of which I am guily on many occasions...) and good luck in working out what you want to do next.
