shawnsegler wrote:...even though I have no job and no place to stay (well, a couple couches to surf but not sure how long that's going to last).
Shawn, are you having a hard time finding a job in the city where you currently live? If so I would move to where the economy is better, and find a job there - any job - so that you can get back on your feet. I have a friend who moves around a lot, he's divorced and willing to go anywhere for work - he has used roommates dot com (I think that's the site) to find a place to stay short term when he gets to a new city, then when things stabilize at the new gig he'll sign a lease to rent an apartment. He's sort of an I.T. "ronin", just wanders across the country working wherever. Anyway, just some food for thought. Things are not bad here in San Antonio, and I guess we're better off than most of the country because I see out-of-state license plates EVERYWHERE here; it has become a game with my kids when we're out and about to spot them: Alaska, Nebraska, California, Florida (lots of the last two), and so on.
Also, I have another friend who once had 11 jobs in 18 months, he said the best place he worked during that streak was CostCo, apparently they treat their employees pretty well. Maybe you should try getting on at one of those, they are all over the country. Just a suggestion.
Best of luck to you.