Check out the boilermaker locals around the country, and see if they're putting permit hands out....If you get on a job and are there 30 consecutive days, you can get an NTL book which will allow you to travel to any local and look for work. You'd be on the "B" list as a welder and you'd be able to make damn good money doing it....if you work up around NY, IL, MN, MI....you're looking at anywhere from 24 to 38 and even 40 dollars an hour.
John