I feel you! It is... Wishing you to make special connections in the new year, OP!!! Don't hesitate to reach out and start conversations :-) I'm struggle with the same thing, and making+sustaining new friendships is my new year resolution

Very similar story here: got a job downtown, moved from TN (okay maybe not as far as CA but still). We ended up renting in Revere and choosing it specifically for proximity to the blue line: public transportation here honestly rocks! Our building doesn't have parking, so we ended up not bringing the car (although fortunately most rentals, especially further away, will include some sort of parking). Commuting has been easy peasy, we can get pretty much anywhere we want using mbta. We're missing the car though: when you do groceries or shop for stuff to furnish the apartment, hauling it on bike/public transport is a LOT, and getting an Uber each time is pricey. Plus, if you want to go to the farther away beaches, events here and there, the cape, hiking: yeah, we're missing the car.... Our is also old though, so we might sell/give it to someone in the family and buy a car here. Lots of dealerships here. Maybe that would be a way to go? Find someone who could use your car, try it here without one, and buy if you decide you need one... Anyway, good luck with moving, this is exciting, and don't get too discouraged finding rent: it's tough and expensive, but works out at the end of the day!