"KE" == Kirk Ellis writes:

KE As far as VFR flying was concerned, things looked hopeful but
KE flying only 15 or so hours a year is not going to satisfy my
KE quest to become a proficient aviator. I thought that perhaps
KE just tooling around the neighborhood in a little 152 or so
KE would satisfy the urge, but in the pathetic 150 hours I have
KE amassed over the last ten years I am already beyond
KE that. Confining myself to local hops around the pattern does
KE not hold much appeal any longer if I cannot mix it up with
KE some good XC's every so often. The thought of taking those
KE relatively longer XC flights to places further than 100 miles
KE from the home base are part of what motivated me to obtain
KE that license. But, sadly, the longest XC I have ever flown in
KE that time is the one required for the PPL.

You describe a situation similar to mine a few years ago. I lived 3
miles from a very good club with taildraggers, Cessnas, and even a
Bonanza, but then the club moved one way, I moved another, and my
flying dropped to no more than 20 hours/year. Like you, I wanted to
fly long, multi-day cross-country flights. Finally I realized I
needed to either buy my own airplane or quit.

I ended up buying an Aircoupe, performance not greatly different than
the ubiquitous C-150. The first year I put on well over 100 hours and
I've flown it from N. California to Arizona, Seattle, Oshkosh, SoCal,
and of course all over N. California.

I cite my experience to point out that one does not need a $100K
airplane to fly cross country. I joke at the airport that I can get
to the same place as the Mooney/Bonanza/C206 guys, I just have to
start yesterday. So what? Neither does one need the IFR rating to
fly X-C, just judgement and vacation time. Read Rinker Buck's "Flight
of Passage" to see how it's done.

Consider a lesser airplane than your dream airplane. It will hold
value and you can sell it in a few years and get your capital cost
back. That's what I plan to do. The Coupe whetted my appetite for
faster cross countries so I started building an RV-9A. I'll sell the
Coupe in a year or two to pay for the engine.
--
Truth is for the minority.
~ Baltasar Gracián