Trailing spouse... Give up on career and make do?

[justwondering72]

DH and I and two DSs live in Europe. DH is working, though a local job not an expat posting or anything like that. I've been a SAHM for 6 years since my first child was born. My youngest is in nursery pretty much full time now, and I finally have a bit of time to think about the world of work... And I am stumped about what to do.

My background is checkered, but includes a PhD and several years experience in academia and public policy in various countries. I don't speak the language particularly well where we live now, I have never worked here and I don't even think my qualifications would count for much. Everything I have read / been told anecdotally tells me that I would not be able to pick up work in my areas of experience here, as it's a profession that is reserved for citizens of the country and requires extremely good language skills.

Virtually every other trailing spouse here that works seems to teach English now - no matter what their former life / job was! I know a few who have carved out careers in other fields, they all have great language skills and have been here for a long time.

The only options that I can see ATM are teaching English, which really doesn't appeal, or moving somewhere that I will find work more easily. That's not an easy decision to make: DH and the children are all settled and enjoying life here, as am I, and we don't really want to move. Financially we are just in the black each year, we could really do with more money coming in as the children get older and costs increase.

I don't know what advice I am looking for tbh. I'm feeling lost about it all, and keep distracting myself with a busy home life and voluntary work. I'm early 40s - too young to retire! And we can't afford that anyway. Teaching English is the obvious way to go, but it feels like going right to the bottom of the hill and starting all over, scratching around for contracts, avoiding the really crappy employers etc.

Help!