>I've been working for a hospital for the last 12 years. Though I don't have any plans to leave, sometimes I wonder if I still have what it takes to work in private industry. I think of myself as a reasonably ambitious worker, having held down a night job at the Universal Thread for 7 of those 12 years, and also doing some small interesting work most evenings and weekends.
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I' retiring in May, so I'll let you know. My experience in government has been that I worked more than 8 hours a day, primarily because I loved what I did. I worked at home almost every night making sure the web servers were updated properly, checking emails from officers on issues, etc. I also have had a part time consulting gig since 1990 that has kept me very busy. I also built two houses (I designed and drew the plans, framed them, painted, poured slabs and driveways, etc. not hired out) between the years 1986 to 2002. I think I will make it fine.