Introduction: 5 Years Across America

In May 2006, I graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Masters in Library and Information Science. I didn’t want to do the easy thing and get a job close by and establish a life pretty much where I had lived my whole life. I wanted to make an informed decision on where I would live.

To accomplish this, I divided the continental United States into six regions: the Southeast, the Northeast, Central North, Central South, and West Coast. I planned to work seasonal jobs and live for a year in each region, except the Southeast; decide where I liked best; and find a job there. I decided to start in the Central North, go to the West Coast, and work my way back east. 

I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

​*Names of specific employers/companies and people have been changed, except for companies well-known enough that identification would have no impact on their reputation. Names of states and public landmarks are true.

**The posts will be published at the same frequency as I wrote journal entries. So, if there was a week between entries, there will be a week between posts. If there were daily entries, there will be daily posts.