I'm glad you chose to write on this topic! We're hoping to move someplace conducive to biking to work as well. I actually don't have my driver's license in France yet and haven't driven since July--don't miss it one bit. And since my husband was just in a bad car crash, I don't want him driving a long commute to work when he finally goes back--driving is also the most dangerous thing most of us do each day.

First . . . government clergy?!?!?!?!

Ok, now that I have that off my shoulders. It's very weird that public sector is actually higher paid. I had thought the opposite although my idea on that was formed back in the 90's and I never thought about it since. Do you think it's a recent change?

Part of it may be because the job market is so crappy these days. In some areas there is basically no private sector left . . .

Interesting. I'd never heard of prosper before. It sounds like an interesting concept.