Loren,
I lived in SLC for a few months, and have close friend who lives there now (Sandy) who is building a house up Big Cottonwood Canyon. He's the kind of guy who can rub two pennies together and make a nickel. He's also the most badassed outdoors freak I know - backcountry telemark skiing mostly but also mountain biking and of course hiking. He loves SLC, simply because of the massive quantity of nearby outdoor adventure options. The city itself, Mo and all, is oppressively suburban. Recently, Sandy voters voted for a Walmart over a park. Mind you the next nearest Walmart is three miles away.

That said, there is a very strong community of great outdoor people there, which provide a counterweight to the otherwise overwhelming whitebread-ness of the area. From what I know of you from posts here, I think you'd like it.

What's the worst that could happen anyway? You don't like it? Well, then aside from not keeping you current apartment, how would your situation be different from your current state of affairs?

I say go, it sounds like a great opportunity.

-Zeke