Then you should look up and down Canning Street and Drummond Streets in Carlton and North Carlton, or along the streets running off Brunswick Street, for a nice terrace house. You can walk to Southgate (~45 mins. depending how far north you are), are right near Rathdowne, Lygon and Brunswick Streets, and you will be right in centre of things socially and culturally speaking. Trams are plentiful when it's wet or you can't be a*sed with the walk or bike ride. North of the city also make airport runs much easier (~15-20 mins in a car). I lived in that area for 10 years or so, and kind of still wish I did. My mum is of a certain age (i.e. not yet Murder, She Wrote), and since she moved there a little while ago, she has loved it. Tons to do, solo or in a group.