What about a folder? I know you're not worried about the space to carry the bikes, but folders make great "tootling around town bikes." I have a Bike Friday and it has a rack on the back for panniers that I do shopping with. The tires are wider than my road bike, so I can do some off-roading with them as well as path riding. It would definitely NOT be like all the other bikes around.

They make a Pocket Expedition which would be a great little hauler in the stock version for about $1200. http://community.bikefriday.com/pocketexpedition
Or how about a Dahon? http://dahon.com/folding-bicycles
There are TONS of models of those. They even have full-size folding Dahons (not the 20 inch wheels).