I agree that you definitely want to stick with the same brand of machine because of the feet. A second machine doesn't have to be hi tech it just needs to sew your basic stitches, afterall, you're not going to be doing free motion quilting on it. Talk with your Bernina dealer I am sure they have a trade in that you can purchase. I own a BabyLock that I use at home but have an older Elna that I keep up at my girlfriends house so we can get together and have sewing marathons. The Elna uses the same bobbin as my BabyLock and it's also a short shank for I can use the same feet. This machine is about 40 years old and I love it, and I got it from my BabyLock dealer.