Wow! You and I are so much alike!
I was at Petsmart yesterday too, just to get some food and litter for the gerbils but I had to check out the kitties there too!
I looked at a beautiful black kitty with big golden eyes and another one that looked like an Abby but with some tiger stripes on her legs.
Here is the girl who caught my eye.

Here is a link to her page at Petfinder.
Ayla
I too have been thinking of getting an older cat rather than a kitten when the time comes.
I think it would be easier to convince my husband to get a calmer, older cat rather than a hyper young kitten.
Your idea of getting a bonded pair though makes me think that maybe I could get two of them that way!