I need help with living alone

Hi everybody,

I am a 20 (AFAB) student, diagnosed with autism at age 17. Due to issues with my family, primarily my mother, who is the current homeowner of my childhood home I once lived full-time in, I have been coach surfing from late February until the start of July. Recently, I have been given the opportunity of living with my best friend in an apartment for a little over a year (temporary housing due to construction) starting this month.

I am obviously ecstatic, as I have been looking for a place to be for the better part of 2 years. However, in these few months of couch surfing, I have learned a lot about myself. I was alone for a majority of the time due to having other health issues and not being able to properly hold a job long-term. So I spent a lot of time with just me, which I like, but there is a key issue here:

Being completely on my own, with me being the only living thing around me, triggers a lot of bad mental health spirals (feelings of hopelessness, impending doom, insomnia, $H, etc.).

Despite the fact that I would be living with my BSF, he won't be there all the time. I am receiving psychiatric help in the meantime for many things, but the process is too fresh for me to even reap the benefits of it yet.

One of the things that has helped me a lot is being around animals. They are great at regulating how I feel; being a positive distraction and taking care of another being is very fulfilling. In my period with coach surfing, my friend owned rats. First only one, then 3 for a longer period of time. Due to me being home more often than her, I was responsible for them and found a lot of fulfilment in that. I also have two dogs at home, one senior and one younger, who I like to take care of.

So, here is my question:

I want to get a pet, preferably one I can do things with like walk and train.

As a student, I know I might not be the best candidate for one. But I would like to share my reasons for why I believe to be a good owner:

I have a family vet already, whom I can go to for things necessary. I have been around various different animals, and I am well-versed in the body language as well as appropriate training for many. My family has always had animals and owned various different types, making me known for the temperament of different breeds. I have always wanted to go for a rescue; knowing the risk, I believe it is best. I wouldn't want a puppy, but an older dog that I can grow with. I am home a lot and also want to take my animal with me to places. I am living in a city that is very walkable. It would take necessary desensitisation to see if the animal could handle this. I make enough money to support myself, and because I am going to have my own place, I will finally be able to set up my own business, which will provide me with another income as well.

I will be living in an apartment, but not too high up, and am surrounded by parks. It also isn't a shoebox but 50 m² with two bedrooms. Due to there being stairs, I cannot go too old, and due to the size, I cannot choose a breed too big. I will subsequently be looking for breeds with less likelihood of hip issues, as my childhood dogs, both spaniels, suffer with this.

I feel a lot of guilt for wanting to use an animal for my own gain in a way. But I have noticed that with all things, the existence of an animal that is itself makes my life feel complete. If I could, I would take my dogs from home with me, but for many reasons I can't.

I am also nervous that, considering I won't be in this apartment for several years, I might bring unnecessary stress to an animal by moving (which is why I also haven't gone for animals like rats or birds, as from my experience, it takes them quite some time to settle in).

What do you guys think?

I am okay with giving up on the idea if it just isn't smart. I can definitely try and stick it out and just deal with the issues I have. I don't want to harm an animal if I cannot provide for it fully.