My boyfriend has had a Trek 7500 FX for about 5 years. All of his commuting, loaded touring and leisure rides have been on that bike. He likes it.

It will be slower than a road bike. It will also be less responsive (though many folks think it's a good thing - what's responsive to one is twitchy to another). It can also be had for significantly less $$ than a road bike. Overall, I think a fitness bike would be a good fit for you, since you don't seem to want to ride great distances fast. If you are planning to join a club and do fast club rides with them, that's a different story: you'll want a roadie.