I earned my private pilot's certificate at 40.5 hours on Sept. 10, 1997, learning to fly in the sardine can known as a Cessna 152. I earned a complex endoresement in a Piper Arrow, and a high-performance endorsement in a Bonanza. That was followed by a tailwheel endorsement, which has become an addiction.
I now do nearly all my flying in a '77 Decathlon. It's 150 HP with inverted system, so I learned to do aerobatics. None of my more adventurous passengers has yet thrown up, I'm proud to say. I'm not really interested in competition. Theorists just don't get up that early in the morning.
Long term, I have my eyes set on the Seawind 3000 amphib for personal ownership someday, to do lake flying up north. But for more fun flying I want to build an RV-8. But my first plane will probably be something small, cheap, and unimpressive. Perhaps a Piper Cub?