lol.
Finally found the magic parameter. borderaxespad.
import pylab,matplotlib
pylab.plot([1,2,3,4,5],[1,2,3,4,5],"bo",label="data")
ax = pylab.gca()
pylab.legend(bbox_to_anchor=(0,1),loc=2,borderaxespad=0)
# draw an X to make sure of coordinates.
ax.lines.append(matplotlib.lines.Line2D((0,1),(0,1),transform=ax.transAxes,color='blue'))
ax.lines.append(matplotlib.lines.Line2D((0,1),(1,0),transform=ax.transAxes,color='red'))
pylab.show()
I don't know how I missed that parameter after reading the docs 100 times. 
Sorry for bothering the list with something so trivial. I had a major
"can't see the forest through the trees" moment.
ยทยทยท
--
Daniel Hyams
dhyams@...287...