The 3,000-mile oil change is a leftover from the days of conventional oil and carbureted engines. Most modern cars running full synthetic are rated for 5,000 to 10,000 miles between changes, and your owner's manual has the real number.
Here's the catch: almost every manual lists two schedules, normal and severe, and Boston driving is severe service. Short trips where the engine never fully warms up, stop-and-go traffic on 93, idling in winter, and salted roads all count. If most of your driving is around the city, use the shorter interval.
Oil doesn't just wear out from miles. Moisture from short trips, fuel dilution from cold starts, and time all break it down. If you drive very little, change it at least once a year regardless of mileage.
The simplest system is to follow the manual's severe-service interval, use the oil grade printed on the cap, and have someone look at belts, hoses, and the battery each time. A mobile oil change in your driveway makes that a 30-minute errand instead of a lost Saturday morning.