Chris;

That's somewhat similar to things in the USGS. There was an overall budget which was parceled out to various research projects within the organization.

The main difference was that you didn't have to worry about your income, only on what you'd be doing to earn it.

Your problem is in having a limited skill set with very limited applications. That can put you in the "Master buggy-whip maker" category.

I'm there too. All my experience is in a field with no openings and a programming language no one uses. If the government figures out how to stop my pension, I'll starve.

Roger