system
A chat on subreddit /r/wallstreetbets
human
Commute on the metro rail into town if you have to. There's still tons over work in Bethesda or across the river in NOVA. Half the value of working in the area is the connections you make though. Will pay dividends later on in your career. 
  
 Degree doesn't matter very much in IT, even here. Get CISSP or CISM and you're gtg, though your probably already know this.

gpt
Yep. CCNA currently, working on VCP at the moment. Thanks for the info though