I'm going to chime in here and say Kentucky is one of the best places to live. I am in central Kentucky ( Mount Eden) and it is very rural. However, I still have the city benefits of concerts, museums, etc.
i lived in Missourri for a while and couldn't wait to get home to Kentucky. Asto the move with pets. ou can do it. When I got divorced, I moved 2 horses, 3 dogs, 20 cats, 2 peacocks, 20 chickens, 4 guineas, and a few more misc pets with a ford explorer and a 2 horse trailer. It took a couple of trips, but it can be done.
As to the prospects for wood working..... Berea has a lot of artistic type wood working if he has ever thought of that. my Dad did carpentry for years, and now works at a electrical/pumbing supply company doing cutom cabinets. Try to think outside the box and maybe a whole new opportunity will open up!
Maybe you can plan your visit with an upcoming show or something.
Yolonda