Looking for new area.

I'm looking for a new area to work in, preferably in the ER, and in a union state. I've been a travel nurse now for 3 years and am ready to settle down. My only problem is that the area (home town) i live in is horrible to work in (southern Indiana). I feel I'm ready to make a move and find a nice place to work. If anyone has any experience in areas that are really nice, geographically and work-related, I'm all ears. Thanks to any and all who respond.

It might help to know what you consider "nice" geographically and what you think makes someplace "nice" to work ...and why Indiana is "horrible" for you.

Boston, MA is a great city to work as an RN in with many hospitals to choose from. Many different patient case types and technological advances only seen in a few areas of the country. The pay is pretty good, although the cost of living is a little higher. There are several union hospitals which MNA memberships is required. As far as the weather, the 4 seasons are nice as long as you can handle New England winter.

I've worked in 3 Indiana hospitals. 2 while doing agency work and 1 was where i cut my teeth. All of which taking any kind of "break" was laughed at. If we got to eat a lunch it was rushed and at the desk. The last ER i worked in accepted all trauma pt's but at night only had 2 nurses in the entire ER. No charge nurse, no house sup, no help whatsoever if **** hit the fan, which is did fairly regularly. The sad thing was that wasn't even "understaffed" that was there usual. I've noticed a pattern of VERY VERY low pay, even under $20/hour with years of experience and disregard for any staff concerns. This wasn't just at 1 hospital.. this was at 3 indiana hospital spread across the state. I'm tired of going to work and feeling like I'm in a damn war zone with people regularly being put in chairs and stretchers around stations and in hallways, never getting a lunch or any kind of break, my concerns for safety being disregarded, and the only concern of upper management being the bottom dollar. I understand that this can happen on occasion, but it shouldn't be something that happens regularly. That is why I don't want to work in this area anymore. I have worked in 2 other states than Indiana; Idaho and Missouri. Both of which were leagues better than any place i've worked in Indiana. People at these facilities would complain when they would have 10 pt's in the waiting room, or when they couldn't take their 30 minute lunch when they wanted to. The simple fact is that I am willing to move away from my family to keep my career, because frankly, I'd rather change my career than continue to work in the ER's in this area.

What i consider a nice area, geographically, is very variable. I'm just sick of staring at cornfields and interstates. Mountains are very nice. I've never been a big fan of big cities and I prefer mid size townships/cities. Moderate driving distance to the ocean would be nice (2-3 hours). Places like Oregon or northern California are the first places to come to mind, however my wife is really pushing for Colorado. Really I'm looking for people who have had good experiences in areas that they have worked. I'm nervous to just pack up and go anywhere completely blind.

Sorry for the bad grammar and run on sentences. This was a bit of rant, but I'm still genuinely looking for advice. Thanks for any future replies.

Washington and Oregon are both beautiful places to live with both mountains and ocean. My cousin has lived in Eugene since 198-something and he loves it there. I liked Corvallis, but don't know anything about the hospitals there. I loved Seattle -- although it's pretty expensive. Spokane was a smaller city, and although the interstate runs right through the middle of town, it still had a small city feel. There are some great hospitals there, and the mountains aren't far away. Smaller towns in northern California might be nice, too, although I don't know of any specifics there. I thought about living near San Francisco (but hated the traffic) and Sacremento (but it was 100 degrees the day I interviewed there, and it was late November.)

If I could live anywhere I wanted, it would be Seattle. But it is a big city.