Yeah, it'd be one thing if I was a real government employee, but, as a contractor I get squat for benefits. Obviously no government pension (which I know is quite nice with the State, as my mom's a NC employee), I get paid hourly, which means no paid vacations, I don't get paid for holidays, the insurance I get is not paid for in any way, though I do get the lower rates involved in a group plan, etc., etc.

And as to Doug's comment, the first thing I'd do if I won the lottery is quit my job and never work again, regardless of how good my job is. I hate reporting to other people, I hate being on their schedule, and I've got enough stuff to do on my own that I'd never get bored. In other words, a bad day at home is still better than a good day at work.