There's an internship for the OC Board of Supervisors as a "Policy & Legislative Affairs Intern". I won't be able to do everything I want there, but I'll get my foot in the door and then they' won't ever be rid of me after that.
Yeah, it definitely helps to have people to talk to. For some people, they all dream about the same world, so it's even better to be able to talk to people who know the same world.