Along what Ken mentioned about trying things out, your personal life WILL revolve around your decision. I've found that being a traveling engineer freelance, touring, or whatever isn't so much about what and who you know (although that does help out alot!) rather how you deal with the swings of the profession. In the biz of freelancing can you handle: not knowing when or where your next job is? will you be able to afford gas?, will you eat? can you make enough to get insurance coverage? is your family, wife, girlfriend, what ever able to deal with the lonely nights? and forget about having a holiday.
If you choose a more stable road theatre, prod. company, TV studio, 98% of the time you are still working in the same place day in and day out. EVERYONE who posts here with any conviction has or will go through this very question. Some try and keep local will choose the "start a sound (or A/V or lighting whatever)company" to give it a try. Some work out, some don't. Most will have another source of income (myself included). I put myself through college by touring my senoir year. After I graduated and the loans started pounding me, I couldn't afford to hang my life on the thin thread of hoping the next show would be closely behind. Remember, when the economy hits people personally, the first thing to go is costly live entertainment. It's just cheaper and easier to go rent a movie. It isn't a kicking concert but at less I'll have lunch tomorrow. I can buy a case of beer for what it costs for 5 or 6 drinks at the bar . . . hmmmm that's a tough one there?!
I've gotten a little winded here but I think you'll get the point. Personally, I'd get that electricians degree/ certification and get tight with all the local and regional production theaters and concert halls. Often, promoters run into problems with power and need a power guy (or gal) to come immediately to hook up a distro or tie in. During those times, because of what it is, they are willing to pay whatever to get things rolling in time for showtime.
Best of luck to ya,
Always keep learning . . .
Grayson
"Hoob"