Joan,
I feel for you. At the end of my M.L.S. I took the Myers-Briggs at the career counselors office and the counselor said I should be in business because I'm the type of person that wants to make a lot of money--yada-yada. I freeked. I went into library science never found my ideal job, got into customer service and sales and now I make as much as my first library job, 11 year ago. I say focus on the animation and move to LA but have your money ready, which might mean being a teacher for a minute while you save up.
Also, the most insulting job interview that I ever had, was when I interviewed for a development assistant and they offered me 15,000 this was like 5 years ago. The development director almost broke down in tears because she knew the director made 70K (and is married to a man making over 100K) and she felt that I should be paid more, and they just couldn't keep good help. It all depends of course on where you live. I unfortunately live in a poorer part of the country and before the national enconomy tanked our economy tanked so, my options have been limited for years.
Best of luck to you. I high recommend two things: prayer, asking other people who care about you to pray for you and creating a reverse pyramid goal sheet with your goal at the top and then you work you way backwards. Also, do not let your connection to your significant other, friends or family keep you from moving to another part of the country. I am amazed a the number of unemployed people that I have met (especially the young, single ones) who bitch and moan about not having a job, but won't leave their families and dead end towns to get their dream job.
Thats's my two cents.