I take that back...I got one good job offer, just before I moved out this way: As a personnel analyst with the State of Missouri. But it would have required me to move to Jefferson City. No thanks.
BTW, the backwaters are griff and slang territory, though I've been in those parts a few times. It's actually scary how similar PA and MO are:
--A large city on each side of the state
--The city on the western side of the state is looked upon as being "lesser"
--Lots of mountains (though the ones here are slightly larger)
--Rivers of national importance
--Lots of hillbillies
Differences (other than foods):
--MO is larger, but has fewer people
--MO's gun laws are more restrictive than PA's
--The roads are better in MO (and no tolls)
--Beer and liquor are easier and cheaper to buy in MO
The things I miss most are generally food items...no Jack in the Boxes or Sonics in these parts. Cheesesteaks take away some of the pain though.
