Well, welcome to the PNW and TE!
I have also found how great public transportation is in this area along with a new found love of bike riding since January. I don't own a car and quite frankly can't see why anyone would in this area. If I do decide to take a longer trip I just rent one. Since last fall (about 7 months) I have had about $150 in automobile rental expenses and a little under $100 in bus costs. Not too bad! I use my bike for pretty much everything including commuting, errands, leisure, and work related travel. Still trying to convince my office that I should get reimbursed for mileage just like the cars do!!
Are you looking for advice on a new bike? I started out with a road bike, a Trek 1000, which I really liked for long road rides. I however found it really impractical for commuting and grocery shopping and ended up investing in a touring bike. The Jamis Aurora that I bough is great and I use it for everything now including bike tours such as metric centuries. If you have any questions, you found the right place. Hope you are enjoying your new home!