Welcome back! I feel like I’ve been in a similar situation as yours. Last year I had to sell all my bikes. I felt naked. I keep telling myself that I’m done with C&V, then I lurk, then I feel like I have something to say (Which most of the times means I don’t). But, I agree. It’s a small group with a similar interest. And, although I’m more of a hermit crab than a social butterfly, I still love working on bikes and I’ve learned so much from this forum.
It’s too bad you’re on the other side of the country. I have 2 long term restoration project bikes that might fit you. One is a Cannondale, the other a Centurion Elite. They both would require ‘a lot’ of work. But if you’re interested, I’ve recently heard that Amtrak is the way to go for shipping.
Jeff