I don't think there's one answer. Some jobs are very good, some very bad, and most in between. If you don't mind flying over water, and aren't afraid to say no, then you should do ok. Some people take that first flight out over the water, and just can't handle it.
As for where to live, you can live anywhere. With a 7/7 or 14/14 schedule, you aren't tied to the Gulf coast. Air Log may not be the best place to go right now, with a strike vote being taken, but otherwise I have no particular advice, other than try the larger companies first, because you'll have a better chance of surviving. As a general rule, the smaller the company, the smaller the maintenance, and the bigger the push to fly. Admittedly, that's a sweeping generalization.