It’s not often that I walk into a business and don’t want to leave.

If you’ve ever eaten at a McDonald’s that wouldn’t probably happen. And it definitely wouldn’t happen at the post office or the local DMV. But there’s one place I’ve found where I could literally hang out all day.

Amoeba Music in Hollywood, for those who haven’t been there, is one heck of an experience. It’s the nation’s largest independent record store, stocked with hundreds of thousands of used CDs, vinyl albums and DVDs.

Rock, blues, jazz, rockabilly, classical, country, bluegrass, comedy, gospel, hip hop, easy listening … you can find it all on Amoeba’s shelves.

Looking for rare bootlegs of The Who? Maybe an early vinyl album from jazz guitarist Pat Martino? Or how about some of those out-of-print Monty Python albums?

Whatever you’re looking for, Amoeba probably has it.

Where else could you buy the Beatles’ “Revolver” album for less than five bucks and also see the vinyl album cover of Phil Silvers and Swinging Brass plastered on the wall of the stairwell leading to the garage?

Over the past few years I’ve picked up tons of great music at Amoeba, ranging from The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” on CD ($4.99) to jazz guitarist Larry Carlton’s “Fingerprints” album ($8).

My two brothers have flown out from Michigan to visit me on several occasions in recent years and Amoeba is always one of our stops.

They’re not the only ones who are drawn to the place.

Back in June of 2007 Paul McCartney stopped by Amoeba to play a rollicking set with his band. I didn’t make that show, as it was barely announced ahead of time (and likely harder to get in than Ft. Knox). But Sir Paul ripped through a slew of Beatles classics that night, including “Drive My Car,” “Hey Jude” and “I Saw Her Standing There.”

The idea of Paul McCartney performing live inside a Hollywood record shop was no doubt more than surreal to those who were lucky enough to be there.

Anyway, I figure if the place is good enough for Paul, it’s good enough for me.

So the next time you’re out and around with nothing in particular to do, you could pull into the post office and browse the FBI’s most wanted posters or you could cruise down to the local DMV for an hour or two of sheer boredom.

But I would suggest checking out Amoeba Music.

You won’t be able to mail letters and packages from there and you sure won’t be able to renew the registration on your 1982 Volvo.

But if you want to be blown away by the massive selection of music they have and find some rare gems you probably didn’t know existed, Amoeba’s the place. Viva Amoeba!