To the OP, welcome to BF. When I started serious riding about 5 years ago, I went with a gravel bike. Mostly for the lower gearing. You can always get a second set of wheels so you can have a road set and a more gravel or light trail set. So, there is a lot of flexibility.

However, aside from a gravel bike, I've had a Trek Domane endurance road bike for about a year now. Since I too, found I like road riding the most. And as my fitness improved, I found I wanted some higher speed gearing. That said, endurance road bikes often take moderately wide tires. My Domane is rated to 38 mm (I think) and while at one time that was the widest of any endurance bike, I think there are others that may take even wider tires now. I run 32 mm for road riding. The 32 mm are as fast as the 28 mm I used to use and just that much more comfortable.

The line between gravel and endurance road bikes is getting a bit blurred. But the main thing is a gravel bike will have lower gearing and allow for wider tires. With your description of use, I think an endurance road bike would be fine. As for gearing, I'd study up on the gearing on the bike you have and compere it to what you might buy. If you see that you are using lower gears on the bike you have and really need that, then lean towards the gravel bike gearing. But don't overthink it. One additional gear lower isn't going to be the difference of making it up normal climbs.

Welcome to BF and don't be shy about starting new threads. It's just no big deal to start a new thread.