My advice is get married before you come here. I'm "old" compared to you, and I came here to live by my wife's parents. It works just wonderfully for us, and our two small children. If I were 22 and single, though, I think I'd be miserable.

That said, I too am "out South" and I'm sure that if there are any 'younger' KC folk lurking here, they ought to be able to offer some ideas to prove me wrong.

Let us know if you have other questions.