I'm in Austin with lots of family throughout the state. TX near the top of your post caught my attention. flights from Austin to Amarillo are as cheap as they

I'm in Austin with lots of family throughout the state. TX near the top of your post caught my attention. flights from Austin to Amarillo are as cheap as they come; same with DFW, or Houston. You could probably still keep up with your daughter while working elsewhere; plus, the 6 hour drive isn't really a deal-breaker. I have a cousin that drives from Midland area to Lago Vista multiple times a month to see their kid; he's a painter, and makes it work on his wages. Invest in some audio books, point your car in the right direction, and press on the skinny pedal on the right! If you're wanting to stay in that geography (I'm one of those rare people that actually LIKE North and West Texas), you can always look for work you can do remotely. There is a lot of this available, and companies in TX may be more likely to hire you if you are able to come for an introductory meeting and are operating in the same time zone. best of luck!