Frustrated landscaper wants to step it up. (Alexandria, Roanoke: apartments, lease)

[H.M. Murdock]

The title really says it all. I currently live in Alexandria, LA and have basically done landscaping of some type all my life- when I was a kid it was working with my grandparents in rural Arkansas to maintain their farm (retaining walls, among other things, not to mention grounds maintenance, etc.) and then moved on to take about two years around my "real" jobs to spruce up 17 acres of my parents' property.
I've only very recently gotten into "professional" landscaping in that I now get paid for it. I'm a new employee of Red River Landscaping, and while it's fantastic to finally be learning the efficient tricks of actual professionals, the clientele and actual jobs are nothing like what I enjoy. That is, nobody here really wants to have a concept in their yard- they just want a bed. I see more pansies and sego palms than I want to count, and regardless of whether it's the fault of my superiors or their clients, the fact is that I feel I'm not accomplishing anything good.

On the upside, I've always enjoyed Virginia immensely. The only part of it I haven't liked when I visited was anywhere near the DC area. The Roanoke/Salem area has drawn my eye in particular, and I'm interested in moving there. However, there are a few problems:

1) This would be my first time living "on my own," so to speak. I've always had a significant other or a roommate, and right now I'm single, working 10-17 hours a day, and getting nowhere with it. So I'm pretty much clueless on how to proceed simply because there's such a deluge of information with no way of discerning good from bad.
2) Cost of living versus income of chosen profession is a huge issue, it seems. The only landscaping jobs I've seen pay the same that I get now $8/hr. To be perfectly honest, that's a load of crap. If anyone can point me in a good direction for finding a better resource (I've only seen stuff in job listings), I'd appreciate that very much. I would prefer to work more in a landscape architecture capacity rather than just an install/maintenance "landscaper."
3) Cost of housing. There's no doubt that housing in the Roanoke/Salem area is vastly superior to here. For example, I currently live in the bottom floor of a house that still hasn't had a new roof put on after Gustav. My roommate and I split a $600 rent, as well as utilities (gas/water/electric). All in all, I literally categorize my paychecks by what bills they will pay. Right now I get about $20/week that I can do whatever I like with.
The housing there, while better, is still expensive. I literally would not be able to afford even the cheapest apartments I've found online (Ashton Heights on Dona Drive NW in Roanoke) at $495 (starting) with a 12-month lease.

Essentially, while I love Virginia and the landscape, especially the Appalachians, I'm finding the same problem that I have in Louisiana- the profession I've finally settled on doesn't pay in the slightest, and everything beyond living like a bum seems completely out of reach.

Help finding better listings of landscaping and landscape architecture firms in the area? Tips on apartment hunting? I'm looking at the possibility of having only one visit before moving, or else I'll just visit a lot and not have the money to move in the end. I'm hoping to be able to initiate the move late this year, maybe January 2011, but I'd like to get a gameplan so I have a direction to work towards.

Thanks!

[roanoker 4]

check out hillstudio.com, they may give some guidance.
Apartment prices have been lower recently due to the recession but generally under $550 if very low in Roanoke. If you don't mind living about 20 minutes away from town(in the country) you will find other housing options. Many people commute from Buchanan, Bedford, etc. The roommate idea is also a good choice. I hope you find success here!