Quote:
Originally Posted by
L.R. 
I'm 22. I haven't seen another person within 8 years of my age (except for high school kids) in a month. This is painful.
Then get out. I grew up in rural KY and left for Chicago when I was 23. Lots of friends and relatives my age (I've got 20-30 cousins) all talked about getting out, but all these conditions had to be perfect for them to try and of course life never is. I'm the ONLY one that made it out, because the only condition to be met was: location - out of Kentucky. Twenty years later, people are still amazed I moved here with no friends, family or job. I had enough money to pay the rent for a few months, took the first job I could get, and went from there. I had some rough times - at one point early on I was out of work for a year, ran through all my savings, was evicted and lost pretty much everything I owned - but it was still worth it.
And like you, I don't hate the place. I'm in the process of buying a house there for when I retire down the line, and I would totally raise a family there. Spending time in both environments makes for a much more well-rounded person, imo.
The worst that could happen, realistically, is you'll fail and have to try again, or discover you hate it and move back. Scrape a few bucks together and go for it.