Laid Off

[nunusguy]

I've been there, and more than just once I guarantee you, so you have my sympathy.
But for employment opportunities you're in a good area geographically speaking, though I know little about your field.
My wife's daughter, who works in the environmental field here in Houston in the private sector, just made a job change "voluntarily" so maybe that's some anecdotal evidence that the economy is improving ?
Good luck Bob.