Quote Originally Posted by artjojo
...I was looking for an all purpose lens because I don't like changing lenses. I need the macro capability and I take portrait photos of people and dogs for painting purposes and also architecture...
My advice: pick a lens that does one, perhaps two, things really well. In 20 years of buying equipment (and selling/trading back most of it), I've found that buying an "all purpose" lens usually means that that lens does no one thing exceptionally well.

Even if it ends up taking a while to do, adding quality gear to your arsenal over time will save you money in the long run.