Can't help with any college instructor info but I thought I would comment on our experience to the part time work approach.
DW and I are both semi-ER. We moved from a college town to a waterfront beach box in a coastal resort area so it was a big change. She does long distance contract engineering for her old company 20 hours per week. It does require travel back once a month for onsite work. The travel part is cumbersome but the pay level is far more than she would ever make locally. She enjoys the flexibility and time off so it works out OK. She's been doing it for a year and will probably go another year or so and try to transition to the same work closer to home.
I went from running my own small hi-tech equipment biz to working at a kiteboarding resort close by. I instruct, manage other instructors and help out managing the retail end. Seasonal 4 days per week. The pay is measly but for me it's basically like a kid
working playing in a toy store
. (Did scuba instructing and commercial fishing to help pay for college)
We took an investment hit like everyone but had always planned part time work even before the crash so it wasn't a huge mental blow. However we did cut expenses and delayed a few toys (cruising sailboat, new kitchen, etc) so that we are not withdrawing more than ~1 to 1 1/2 % from the current reduced stash. Individ health care is our biggest expense. No debt, blah, blah. Still have a 5th grader at home with her college fund already set aside. Given the extreme stress many people are under we don't feel so bad. Plus the work provides a routine between the fun stuff (I'll fire up the boat and set the crab pots this weekend) and keeps us from checking and worrying about investments all the time.
We'd like to stay with the part time routine until our daugther graduates so that will be the plan.
My only advice: even when you do get paid for what you luv to do, it is still work and you have to develop the right mindset for it. Never happens overnight. Good luck!