Thank you everyone for the replies - the willingness to share your accumulated knowledge on this forum is very much appreciated. I've read through your replies several times.
I took yesterday off work and spent the day bouncing around in a 172. Flew KSDL to KSEZ to 40G to KINW to KPAN back to KSDL. Lots of time to play with the G1000 (which is still new to me - my old plane had a 430/530), and to think about what exactly I want in an airplane.
My thoughts:
First, nearly all of my hours are on the East coast. Density altitude back at sea level was more of a theory than a reality. Yesterday was stunningly gorgeous in AZ, cool temps up high, and the 172 was wheezing coming out of 40G and around the San Francisco peaks. I got as high as 10,500', and there wasn't too much more power to be had. Bottom line, I need a turbo.
Second, since I've only recently gotten back into flying, most of my (limited so far) time has been getting to know Phoenix airspace. Getting back in the groove of flying an airplane, radios, etc. Yesterday reminded me that what I really love about flying is going somewhere just for the sake of going somewhere. What did I have to do in Valle, Arizona yesterday? Absolutely nothing, but it looked interesting on the map so off I went. Would I be as comfortable taking that trip in a twin? Maybe not. And I'd be missing something by focusing on only getting to and from my planned destination. I believe it will take me awhile to get comfortable with the complexity and cost of a twin. I need to build another few hundred hours of skills before I get into the multi world, as there is more that can go wrong and everything is happening much faster.
Third and most importantly is my family. My wife is supportive of me flying again. It will take time to get her comfort level to the point where she will be at ease piling the entire family in the plane for a long XC. That means baby steps with her, and building more time. Time = money, so I need an efficient way to build that time.
So where am I now ... twin is off the list. Someday in the future perhaps, but I'm not there yet. A maintenance surprise with a twin is just not a proposition that appeals to me right now. I'd rather spend that money flying. A 210 is also off the list. I don't need that hauling capacity in the near future. When I do, I'll trade up.
That leaves me really down to the following:
182T (most expensive option it seems, but I've got plenty of 182 time and it would be an easy transition)
231/252 (Never even sat in one, but the more I read the more intrigued I become)
Something Piper - Turbo Arrow or Comanche? (though many seem worn and need of significant upgrades)
So that's where I'm at. Focus for the next few years will be building hours, some business travel, shorter hops with the family until my wife gets 100% comfortable.