Trying to not form an attachment

I’m a complete n00b when it comes to gardening and planting but I’ve somehow managed to keep this guy alive for well over a year now. He started his life as a small pepper seed wrapped in a cotton ball placed into a modified plastic water bottle. He didn’t grow much despite me making sure the bottle and cotton wick had water daily. After a few months and a relocation road trip where he lived in the dash of a uhaul for 2 days and 1000 miles, he started showing some decent growth in the plastic bottle. I then found some potting soil and migrated him to a larger pot. He grew more and even sprouted a little pepper. Over the past couple months, he started to shrink and wasn’t absorbing the water I was giving him. I thought he was dying so I started putting him outside in direct sunlight for an hour or two a day. This seemed to help a little but also attracted bugs. I woke one morning to a small bug consuming the pepper that had began growing. Sadly, the pepper never recovered and recently fell off the plant. I took this and his overall health as a sign that he needed a better/larger pot. So I got some more (better quality) soil and a new pot. I took care to be gentle and remove him from his current home, rinsed the roots off well and carefully spread them out when planting him in the new pot with the new soil. I swear, in under 4 hours he looked loads better. It’s been almost a week and he seems strong and well. I’m also learning more and started only providing fresh water in the morning and not over watering him.

*sad dead pepper noises*

While I’m not looking to turn this into a large time consuming passion or hobby, input on ways to keep the plant happy and healthy are truly appreciated!