.- Attend at least 2 national REI conferences to network with you bigger fish!  

Then, start going to conferences, workshops, seminars.

Currently planning a 4 month trip to North Eastern US.

Before I "retired" at age 37, I worked in the corporate world for 15 years and held a variety of jobs including marketing manager for a tech company, a conference and event director, a probation officer, an office manager for a major alcohol distributor, and a counselor at a residential rehab facility for teens.

Many people who are dismayed by their college experience majored in crap like psychology, sports management, history, eastern european literature or some crap that won't land them a good job.  

You'll be able to stretch your dollars much further if you are in Eastern WA such as Spokane or the tri-cities, but again I'm assuming you will be limited to wherever you intend on working.

(but super looking forward to staying, and your conference Brie :) Like Brie said, having the people to be able to call when you need expertise is huge. 

Go on the "World Blockchain Conference" website, coming up in Dubai, and try to buy tickets.

Do not pay into some guru conferences or system that will mentor you .

- I am in Eastern Kern County, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.Will you be staying or leaving?