Hmmm, my sinus issues have improved greatly in the short time I've been in SoCal. Maybe it's not the pollen, though -- I'm living in the "Inland Empire" (lol, that still sounds weird to me) so maybe the air being so much drier than in Raleigh is why I'm feeling better.
My wife is a green card holder because she's from Thailand. She's been here just over 5 years now. She isn't trying to become a citizen just yet; Her green card is of the 10-year variety (there's a 2-year one, too, I think) so we have a little time before spending the money to get that done. Immigration the legal way (petitioning for fiancee visa and then for a green card), even without the help of a lawyer, costs some money. Not sure how much the citizenship stuff costs yet, but we won't put it off too long.
RRKore, best of luck with your wife obtaining US citizenship. It will cost you about $1,500 without a lawyer. A lawyer is not necessary.
I recommend you and your wife get this done ASAP, not just for the right to vote and to hold a government job, but for other more important reasons. I am sure you are aware of them.
If your wife travels outside the US, and for whatever unfortunate reason gets stuck outside the US longer than six months, her permanent resident status maybe revoked permanently.
I also read from an immigration attorney about a case where a non-citizen, legal permanent resident got into a bar fight. He is married to an American citizen, has kids born in the US and he himself had lived in the US for years. The guy got taken to court for hurting someone in the bar fight. The judge somehow managed to get the guy's permanent residence revoked and the guy was deported. It was all done legally. The attorney who wrote about this said this is one reason why non-citizen US residents should behave and seek citizenship ASAP.