Matt Raible has an interesting discussion going about the differences in full time vs. contract work. Having just started a full time job that I love I can say that the grass can be as green on the other side. Matt has done excellent work and it is a large part of the reason he's so successful as a contractor. It depends, too, on what kind of work one wants to do. When I set out to look for the job I have now I had specific goal of being in the geographic region and my first choice was to move back into the academic arena. All and all a successful transition.