Trying to decide what to play....

I'm starting to play poker again, and have been thinking about what I want out of it. I'd like suggestions on the best way to go about it. First my history and goals, then my question...

Related History:
About 4 years ago I stopped playing poker. I was a professional set mining nit for about 2 years before then. Bad bankroll management, and stress killed poker for me, and I went back to a day job. It's been long enough that I enjoy playing again.

My Goals:

• Greatly improve my game.
  
  • I was a set miner - that's more about patience and discipline than skill.
  
  
  • Learn to become better at reading hands
  
  
  • Understanding the game beyond "fit or fold"
  
  
  • Becoming a LAGG isn't the goal - becoming a better player is the goal

• Earn enough money from poker to...
  
  • Take random $15 to $25 MTT shots - just a couple a month
  
  
  • Pay for a few live game trips and build a live bankroll. This is ~4 hour drive to the Hard Rock - I'm not talking about a $20,000 vagas trip.
  
  
  • Make smaller withdraws to do something special with my family every once in a while - $2000 every couple years would be great.
  
  
  • Build a new house where we live now
  
  
  • No, that wasn't a joke
  
  
  • We already own the lot
  
  
  • I don't care if it takes 10+ years.

• Profit Goals
  
  • $50/month for MTT shots
  
  
  • $100/month for special trips
  
  
  • $500/month for a house
  
  
  • I'm assuming that a live bankroll will pay for itself.
  
  
  • $650/month ~ $150/week

• Bankroll Goals
  
  • I am starting with my leftover FTP bankroll - 11.48
  
  
  • I am starting at $2NL, and will build up from there
  
  
  • If I go busto at $2NL I'll deposit
  
  
  • I will NEVER play outside my bankroll

I don't think these are unreasonable goals even averaging just a couple hours a day. Not paying bills with the winnings does make a huge difference.

Now that you have passed my wall of text, it's time for for my question...

In the past I've normally played full ring. With my new goals I wonder if 6-Max might be a better fit - at least in the short term. Fewer players to watch would make it easier to get reads. On the other hand, I think hand ranges are better defined in full ring. Later on I'll try both to find where my profit is best, but where should I start if I'm looking purely at improving hand reading? Which do you think is better for learning to becoming better at placing players on hands?

Any other suggestions/questions?

Thanks