Man, those are some good points, zoltani. I'd love to be close to the mountains. And rivers. But the island definitely has its appeal too - that house is pretty much what we're looking for, except for 4 hours a day of commuting.
whiskeyjack - I used to visit a friend out by Lake Stevens, and there were always cyclists on this one treacherous road, I think it was Dubuque. Winding, hilly, no shoulder. Exactly what I need to avoid. I've ridden the Interurban a few times, it's amazing how much faster it is than the roads.