Relo for Job in Rockville/Gaithersburg (Bethesda, Darnestown: apartment, rent, townhouse)

[mltimes]

Borrowing from the questions we ask people on my city's board, on the theory that more information yields better results:

When are you moving? Summer 2016
Where are you coming from? A highrise in the historic area of Philadelphia
Why are you moving? Job relocation
Where will you be working? Shady Grove Road near Darnestown Road
Have you been here yet? Once to Rockville area; went to college in DC half a lifetime ago

Will you buy or rent? Rent for now

If renting, are you looking for an apartment, a rowhouse or loft? I'm coming from a 2br/2ba 1200 sq ft apartment. I'd love the same, but all the 2/2's I saw on a recent visit were barely 1000 ft with very strange layouts (eg, lots of weird angles). Are there older buildings with better space?

Do you prefer hi-rise or walk up? High rise because of the safety and amenities, but open to other ideas. I'm coming from a 24/7 doorman, pool, gym and underground secure parking. I would prefer the same for reasons of safety (female living alone; grocery and laundry deliveries, etc.), but my initial impression is that rockville Town Center seems to have limited options and Bethesda rents are insane (at least by Philadelphia standards). I'm also hung up on room size and would sacrifice 1 bathroom (or even a bedroom) for more usable bedroom/living space. I'm intrigued by New Urbanism so (my soul is dying a little writing this) maybe I'm destined for something like a townhouse in the Kentlands? Where else should I be looking?

Do you have a preference of living in a NJ or PA suburb? This question makes me so sad because I am NOT a suburbs person and will miss walking home past the Liberty Bell every night so, so much.

Are you married or single? Do you have children? Single, no kids, and prefer to think of myself as late 30s but won't be by the time I move
Do you have pets? yes, a cat (what's the deal with 'pet rent'? I don't think we have this in Philadelphia.)
Do you want or need a yard? No yard; would love a balcony. Or, in a house, a walled in patio. Think 'glass of wine after work' not 'spend my weekends weeding'.
Are you keeping a car? Yes, will need to buy one.
Do you prefer bustling activity or calm and quiet? On the continuum, more toward bustling but not right in the middle of it. More like on a side street 2 blocks away.

What do you want to be closest to?
Ideally: Walk to weekly farmers maket, drycleaner, pharmacy, whole foods type market, a really good coffee shop, non-chain restaurants and a decent bar, BUT without a hellacious commute to work every day.

Is this possible? Is there someplace other than pricey Bethesda and tiny Rockville within a 30 (or 45) minute driving commute? (My current commute is 6 minutes; I'm not sure I like my job an hour's worth each way). I'm not a public transit person and have a job that probably doesn't mesh well with the rigidity of timing to use my company's shuttle bus to Rockville metro). On a weekend, I'd drive into DC, not metro. If I live on the red line in NW DC, I'm worried about the mental toll of commuting and the actual cost to park a car.

I'd really like someplace architecturally interesting, too. Are there any older buildings that might have more charm/interest/detail?

I realize that I sound incredibly demanding and high maintenance (And that this may be the understatement of the century). Of course I know that some (or most) of my wish list will be sacrificed, but I'm putting it out there for any and all ideas that might hit some or more of what I've described.

Oh, and budget? As little as possible. I'm currently paying $2500 all in.

Thanks tons for any and all advice.