It looks like I earned the 5 points which are prerequisite for kicking off the I Forgot to Remember to Forget side quest, and previously talked to Manny Vargas about Bitter Springs, but when I talk to Boone about Bitter Springs he only tells me that "we aren't exactly comrades in arms" and doesn't want to tell me. Is this normal? Am I supposed to wait longer for Boone to randomly approach me and initiate further conversation about Bitter Springs? Or am I missing something?

I haven't done the quest yet but it may be that you haven't used him enough or the ncr hate you. Has he told you bout his wife and what happened?