I've heard multiple stories from people who bought a building in Somerville or Cambridge (this goes back to the '90s) and find that part of the building had illegally been converted into a mother-in-law apartment or that there was an illegal unit added into somewhere like a basement or an attic.

I've been to Montréal a bunch of times and yeah, their subway is pretty nice. I also like the underground pedestrian tunnels (RESO, a French pun on "réseau" for "network") connecting some of the stations in the downtown area, lined with shops and restaurants and stuff, like a "city under the city".

Friendships here are largely transactional. Make sure you can do something useful for somebody, and lots of people will want to try to be your friend. In return, seek out people who can do something useful for you, be friendly to them. Hopefully you can start some kind of symbiosis.

One thing you can do is buy a car, you'd be surprised at the number of people who'll be your "friend". It's the big-city equivalent to living in the suburbs and being the only house on your block with a swimming pool.

Sergeant Shadwell, at your service.