Brian,
Welcome to the best club around.
As far as IFR is conserned I agree with GPB. If you have a IFR rating and fly IFR a great deal of the time it is safe, but if you are not flying IFR a lot, then you can be a danger to yourself. I fly for fun only and do not fly in bad weather, so I have no need for an IFR rating.
By a 150/152 and save money while you learn and then you can have a better understanding of what to do next.
See you at Clinton?
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The Turtle ( I`am slow, but I get there )
Steve
`83-C152 N94270
Tracker
http://aprs.fi/#!call=a%2FN94270&timerange=3600&tail=3600