Many thanks to you all! More and more this is sounding like a place I would love to live. I am so looking forward to this weekend! All of your comments and suggestions are of immense value to me.
The biggest impediments to moving are work and travel. I have the best job of my career right now (though my career, at 8 years, is still in its childhood), and travelling to Florida from the PNW would suck. But I cannot see myself living in Colorado for the rest of my life, or even another five years.
At any rate, it would be at least a year before any move would happen (though obviously planning and interviewing would have to start much sooner). And I would definitely want to visit there a few times (hopefully for a whole week next spring) before making a decision. I eseentially made the decision to move from Virginia to Colorado last year based on a 3-day weekend to visit friends here back in May 2002, but at least this past year has given me the opportunity to reflect on what I have liked and disliked about both Virginia and Colorado and to use that information to determine what I would like. (Florida sucks, period. I lived there for 20 years and I'm only 32.)
By the way, does anyone have a good suggestion for trail running? My hotel is right outside PDX airport and the best time for me to go would be Saturday morning (and possibly Sunday, too). FWIW, I love dirt trails and dense tree cover, and a 5-10 mile loop would be ideal.
Oh, and while I'm not gaming now, I've tried a few times in recent years but it never really took (I haven't gamed extensively since high school). Based on Xyanthon's comments, perhaps I'd also be able to find a gaming group (D&D or Shadowrun) that I really mesh with.
Thanks again, everyone! Keep the talk coming if you want. I'll be paying attention, I promise!
Justin