Year abroad! (rent, home, university)

[Flopsy]

I'm sure there are lots of these posted but before I start wading my through them I thought I'd start by asking advice and opinions!

I'm a 21 year old student about to start a year at college here in the UK. My course finishes June 2010 and I am seriously considering a gap year before I go to university. I've always wanted to visit America and have been thinking about my options for 2010 and I would much rather than traveling around be settled in one place and earning some money towards uni instead of spending what I don't have glob trotting!
My plan so far is to move over to the USA (I need your help on where) work as an Au Pair for a year and then potter back home to the UK and do "the uni thing."
So the bit I'm asking for help is: 1) where? I've already decided that wherever I go I would like it to be by the coast and ideally not freezing cold. I've sort of set my heart on California, having fallen in love with Point Sur. Obviously I'll have to go where I'm offered a job but where would you recommend I aim for that's not far from the Sea? And if not California where else along the coat there would be a nice place to spend a year?
I'm after somewhere that is friendly, warm, not hugely expensive (although I shan't be paying rent when I move as I will live with the family... I hope!) but a wealthy town, because,lets face it, I will be more likely to get a decent wage there!

I know that's quite a long blurb to read through so thank you for doing so! Anything you have to say will be much appreciated the good the bad and the ugly =p