You need to get new friends. I had a couple of friends who were "Public Servants" (LOL). Finally got sick of their smug and strangely clueless remarks - similar to what you relate - and dumped them. Funny thing is, they both saw themselves as Victims because they considered that they had no options due to the 'golden handcuffs'.  Never seemed to dawn on them - or perhaps they simply ignored the fact - that they were essentially unemployable in the private sector except as grocery clerks or errand boys. Both retired in their mid-fifties, a feat most private sector workers can only dream of. Pretty cool story, eh Victimizes. What is yours? Come on, do tell. We'd all love to hear your plan.