I started over. I figured fresh install, why not.
Trying to decide on my "path" through the Commonwealth this time. Last time it was pretty much a drunken ramble. So this time Im heading straight to Diamond City. Heading to Diamond City from Sanctuary is a direction I had actually never gone before, so I've been finding stuff that was new to me.
And I remembered something else. Zombie/ghouls are annoying as hell when you have low level weapons.