Moving past your first trailer

I did exactly as you say. I bought a 2016 172 in about 2018. I couldn't have loved it more. The floor plan with the twin bunks was perfect for me. I upgraded the dinette cushions and dumped the table and put a cute little bistro table in my "living room."

I learned SO MUCH especially from this forum. I spent a lot of time in it over 4 years (including a 15 month full-time stint). I drove on forest service roads and worse, and parked in precarious spots getting really good at maneuvering but bumping things here and there. 

Since I travel everywhere, mostly by myself, it just seemed safer to buy a better built newer camper. I went with a 1475 Lance which is beautiful and similar in size. There's a lot I like about the fancy set-up. The lithium with the rooftop solar all set up to be self sufficient is really something (I spent many days with my volt meter on the batteries shifting around my portable Renogy panels.)

But I still really miss the pod. The new floor plan is good but it doesn't give me the view from inside the camper that the pod did. There are places I don't go now so as to "not mess up the camper" (not many but more than I'd like). If something isn't working I'm less inclined to dive in and learn as I go because the new one is expensive and a I can make costly mistakes. It also feels less customizable. I had really made the pod mine but there just not to mess with in the Lance. There isn't even anywhere to hang a damn kitschy "Happy Camper" sign and I'm afraid to put a hole in the wall to do it anyway.

Still, when I'm on some highway in Wyoming in the middle of nowhere I do feel less worried about a breakdown. Oh and the "four season" thing with the ducted is nice and toasty.  :)