> I does not make sense to wait 10 years!

Can't you just trust that the Ah rating for the battery is correct ?
It almost certainly will be for a reputable brand. You won't actually
get 36 years because of the battery's self-discharge, it's likely
you'll get something like 5 years. There are also different types
of Li battery, for example Li+MnO2 (manganese dioxide) or
Li+CF (poly-carbon monofluoride). Li+CF is said to have an
extended shelf life. However, to complicate things, the various
types have distinct characteristics over their lifetimes and may
not be interchangeable for some applications. You should Google
around eg

http://www.machinedesign.com/ASP/strArticleID/55501/strSite/MDSite/viewSelec
tedArticle.asp

and get manufacturer's advice. Perhaps even Microchip
can help - after all they're in the business of making low power
chips and may have some recommendations

> What is a good suggestion to test this unit?  Would connecting
> a resistor (to drain power) externally be a good idea?  Any
> suggestions?

The current levels you're talking about are at the lower end of
the curve. Accelerated testing with a high discharge may not
allow you to accurately extrapolate what will happen at much
lower discharges. Natural chemical degradation (ie self-
discharge / shelf-life) won't be a factor at high discharges but
it probably will be significant at the current your application uses

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