As Whirly said, you will get all manner of different answers and true to form here is my experience.....
I, like you, did a trial lesson (two in fact). Like you, I got well and truely hooked. But location and finances didn't allow me to take it any further. So it was over a year before I started. But in that time, I saved enough to pay for a ppl. Net result was I did the PPL in about 6 weeks. Doing it in a lump is definitely beneficial. Bear in mind that exams are only valid for a year, so if you are going to do it over a number of years, don't rush into doing the exams.
As for flying for a living, look at it this way. Commercial pilots get told to fly where, when and how. Private flying allows you to decide what when and where. I have my dream job in aviation, but I miss private flying. Oh and night flying? as the old saying goes only bats and t**ts fly at night. Believe me, it is not all it is cracked up to be.
Which ever way you go, good luck and have fun.