I work for the gov't - and let me tell you, the pay is not half bad, epecially in comparison to the amount of work you do. You also get great benefits and vacation time. and you get to have a life! you can go out on Thursday night and go to work the next day and take the day off mentally - or work 9 hour days and just take every other friday off. and as for travel - in the area i work in, which is international affairs, i get to travel overseas about every six months for a week or two. People go to Russia, the Hague, Africa, etc. Govt is a pretty good deal. and it looks great on a resume, allowing you to go somewhere else, including the private sector, in a few years.