Off topic but, just curious where in the Boston area did you live? I grew up there (W. Roxbury) and worked in construction, so luckily most of my friends were in the trades and more conservative.
Boston sure can be tough for a conservative.
At various times I lived in Somerville, Cambridge, Lynn, Belmont and Stoneham. I worked in Cambridge, Dorchester and Boston. Not too familiar with W. Roxbury. I listened to Howie Carr more years than I can count, so that made me feel less isolated as a conservative.
Btw, I attended Grace Chapel in Lexington. I was present when Gordon MacDonald took the congregation to task for not believing Bill Clinton’s finger-wagging-sex-denial. I was not present when the elders took Pastor MacDonald to the woodshed. ;)