Three More Years?

I ran into my old virology teacher on the stair-well yesterday, and we got to talking about school, research... and getting a PhD.

She was telling me about laboratory animal medicine and working at a university, and she was seriously encouraging me to get my PhD. "You could get it done in 2 or 3 years, " says she.
I was rather surprised -- most PhD students I have known take at least 4 years. Going for the degree was sounding more appealing.
"If you get into the right lab, you can do it. Get on with one that's NIH funded, where they have a big project going on and you can take on a part of that larger project. Yeah, you can finish in two or three years."
Whoa.
"Let me know what you're interested in, and I'll help you find a good lab."
Wow! What a nice offer! I could publish some papers, work in an intellectual atmosphere, and get the degree.


But wait -- what would I do with a PhD? I've thought about teaching in a university... a PhD would help me there... but maybe I won't teach. And do I really want three more years of school? I've got some other things I'd like to do in life, and if I keep pressing on in the academic world I might not get the chance to fulfill those desires. Dunno.
I think I'll keep the PhD idea on my back burner, along with the zoo medicine residency.