I have been in the gov sector (DOE National Laboratories) since I graduated from college in '91.
They have offered decent pay, full upfront payment for my Master's Degree and an additional Bachelors Degree, 5 weeks of vacation per year, and a very generous retirement plan (10% into a 403b account with no matching required on my part).
The work environment at the two labs I have been associated with has been very low stress and my schedule is VERY flexible.
I am, as they say in 'The Shawshank Redemption', institutionalized. There is no way I could possibly function in the real world.
