I don't know about the jobs, but it all depends about where you go.  It's actually a really big state with 9 million+ people.  I've never held a residence there, but I've got relatives there and friends who work summers on the coasts occasionally.  I don't doubt you'd be able to find something in the Raleigh Durham area (they call it "The Triangle&quot, given that's it's becoming somewhat metropolitan, and Charlotte, Wilmington and Greensboro are also relatively civilized.  In the summers it will be uncomfortably hot and humid, but you're young, so don't act like a pussy about it and it's likely no one will bother you.  The people are drawn to the thumping of a Bible, which is what you'd expect.  And they parrot back the message from the pulpit in cricket-like fashion (lots of fucking crickets, too).  In short, you'd have to put a gun to my head to move there, but you're in a different situation.  There are better places to make a go of it, there are also worse places.

Longwood is the city they live in. Based on satalite imagagry I think I'll stick with Michigan... It appears to be very rural. Not really my thing. But then again... if I'm above average here... I'd be a fucking wizard down there!

It seems to be fairly developed near the coast as one would expect, and Longwood is only a half hour from the sea. Well within driving distance. I'll have to put a lot of thought into it. Know anything about the area?

My sister-in-law and her husband live in the Raleigh area. They really like it (and they're both liberal Colorado natives, so I guess that's something).

It's hotter than hell there in the summer. But the Carolina coast is really quite beautiful, especially in the winter season when all the tourists have gone.

Given that Michigan is in the shitter economically, you could do worse than North Carolina.

I can probably get them to hook me up with more information for you if you're still interested.

I'll get the ball rolling.