I retired from the State of NJ & was glad to have had the opportunity to have worked for the State. My pay check was not much every other week. It was tuff having been a single mother with 2 boys. Yes I was happy for the wonderful health benefits which I still get along with a good pension. My now husband worked for in the private sector. He received good pay/great health benefits/ great pension. His pension was & still is invested wisely which allows him a 13th check & over payment each year. NJ never invested our pension fund wisely & stole from it, hence the problem we are in now.