Look, you know my feelings on the matter of working for government, what I did to get out of it, and probably have a sense of what I've been through in avoiding such a job again even though my wife would be happier if I did and it would actually provide some additional financial security.

However, I cannot fault anyone who provides for their family.

The hardest thing in all of this is making moves you know you should do when you have little or no support from the spouse, plus young children to take care of. That responsibility is as about as important as it gets.

That said, I certainly don't want to discourage you from finding an out. It's amazing how the doors begin to open when you decide it's what you should do. And of all of the different agencies you could have worked for, the one where you do is, in my opinion, as close to self-sufficient as government agencies will ever get.

So, dude, while you're smarting from what you've read, just know that I feel your pain and I've also paid the price and suffered the consequences, good and bad, of quitting a good paying government job with great benefits and virtually no threat of being fired.

So, it can be done. And with the kind of experience you have, there's a good chance it can translate into the private sector. Of course, going straight to something involving hunting and fishing would be awesome, too. :)

Let me know if I can help in anyway. Otherwise, as always, I'm rooting for you.