From now on G you need to plan your Flight IFR and take it as a bonus if you do it in VMC.
So to start with you will have to work out what ATC services are available on your route and what they can give you.
Actually when you are in the clouds thats when your safe, hasn't been a mid air in IMC for over 50 years.
Once you get your head round IFR and your going places not sightseeing its better to bang up into IMC icing permitting to get away from all the VFR planes.
Always presume you are going to get dumped by the controller you are speaking to and have the next agency lined up in your mind ASAP after sorting things out with the current one. After a while you will know the ones that will give you a service and which ones will tell you to poke off with a basic.