Deep fried Mars bars...mmmmm...... <BR>Actually, I can't complain. I get 4 weeks of vacation plus the week between Christmas and New Year's, plus federal holidays off (although when I started over 6 years ago I only got 2 weeks of vacation, total, plus holidays). There are still some employers in the good ol' US of A who reward employees with increased vacation time based on length of service. And I do think vacation time is an often-neglected term of employment that many new hires don't negotiate as actively as they do, say, salary. It is possible, particularly in today's tight labor market, to negotiate more vacation time as a term of employment.

Bob it's diet combined with a distinct lack of exercise that gives Scotland the number one position in the heart disease league. <BR> <BR>We're noticeably worse than the rest of the United Kingdom. Frying culture is still here.

UncleSam, you struck a patriotic cord. Definitely voting, and lobbying (really!) :) for quality of life issues at our state legislature. This issue came up at a candidate's forum last month.

I just returned from Europe (France, Belgium) this PM and I tell you what, every time I come back to the USA from abroad I find myself appreciating life here more and more. The quality of living in the US is remarkable. (Don't be fooled by those statistics such as infant mortality and life expectancy rates which place the US in the middle of the pack for developed nations---if you're reading this note on a computer, that data doesn't apply to you, but is a by-product of the very downtrodden segment of the population which either doesn't work, immigrants who haven't yet assimilated, or fringe poor--which drags the average down measurably). <BR> <BR>Yes, too many people in the US get too little vacation, I couldn't agree more. <BR>And I'm obviously highly biased since I was raised in this society, but I'd trade half my vacation to be able to live in the US permanently if I was not a US resident now, and so would millions and millions worldwide. <BR>And by the way, Christine, I've visited almost all the countries in Europe, and my favorite by far is Switzerland. You have good reason to be proud of the quality of life there.