Separation? not always!
Filed an IFR flight plan to go to Austin Executive from St. Petersburg Florida in a light plane. Nice day. Bimbling along, expecting the enroute controller would be looking after me......
When another aircraft appeared crossing my bow, and not very far away at all. I immediately complained to the controller, why didn't you tell me about that traffic I nearly ran into?
If conditions are VFR, madam, he replied, you have to look out for yourself.....