Colony system finding

Hello! Not sure if this has been an already asked question, or if I just sound like I’m complaining, but I’ve been really wanting to try colonisation, but just seems impossible to find a system that’s near other systems to gather materials ?

I am using Spansh and can only find systems 50LY away from occupied ones, which just seems impossibly slow with my T9. Do I need to lower expectations, look differently, or just succumb to the long trips?

Thanks! o7