I am 41, with similar responsibilities. I have owned more bikes then I care to count, often rotating through one or two a year, for 20+ years of riding. Each riding style has it's own benefits and challenges. As a larger rider, I find the sport bike riding position hard on my wrists and lower back. The more "relaxed" riding position of the 'busas, is probably the most comfortable, sport bikes, for me, but still not something I want for distance riding.
I currently have a hot rod harley, that was built mostly in response to smack talking harley bashers. It is far from the most comfortable bike I have had. I just got tired of the constant "Oh I beat every harley up all the hills, and blah blah blah...blah blah..." I built it because I could, and it is a lot of fun to challenge the trash talkers to roll their bike onto the dyno. Most of the trash talkers have llearned to zip it around me, and a large portion of them have started coming to my shop to make their own bikes run better. Still not something I would recommend for other riders, though.
if you are going to have kids on the back, I really like the road king model. They can hook their legs on the saddle bag mount/rear crash bar, and they are pretty much "locked in" Most of the better seats have removable back rests, as well (I hate them, but a lot of people seem to like having them). The softail deluxe is another nice rider. The older softies handled like dump trucks, but the frames are pretty stiff, now, and I recently rode a new one. it was a real pleasure to ride.
of the harley clones, the yamahas stand out as the hands down best. IF I absolutely had to have an import cruiser, it would be a star
If you are really going to do some touring, I cannot say enough good things about the new honda goldwing...