Maine Coons are pretty baller, we had one when I was younger but my dad accidentally ran over it with a disk plow, (which is the REAL cause of my emotional outbursts and cat loathing) I would like to have one again sometime.
But I would recommend going to your local shelter, and looking for an animal fitting your description -- dog or cat, that you can find. Most of them are older anyways, and it will be cheaper, also you'll be doing a good thing.
EDIT: You really don't want a pet? Have you ever
had a pet? I would probably own several if I could stay somewhere for more than 2 years at a time. Almost every manly man dad i've ever met opposed to getting a pet eventually falls in love with it.