Host my own email in a VPS and stop using gmail, which options do I have?

I'm planning to stop using some google services (like gmail for personal email, still be using for services like google code though). I'm not too paranoid, I know every service in the net is a threat to privacy. The problem with google is that it has access to all my search history, chat, e-mail, and simply associates everything - my whole life online. Is different from having some info in a flickr account, some in twitter, you can delete an account and they will not (hopefully) be merged to get more information about yourself.

I don't know if in 20 years, 40 years, this is going to be used against me, or Google becomes a corporation with different owners that are completely evil.

Anyway. I was planning to pay $20 a month to a VPS and install some kind of email server/client. I would buy a domain for me and create an email using @domain.

I would like to know some suggestions for open source solutions, I dont want something really complex ("a complete enterprise groupware solution", just the name "enterprise" gives me itches), I want a simple web based e-mail account. If a web interface is not possible, at least a *nix solution very light which supports pop3/imap.

Is there a "spam" group where I can get a blacklist of ips or something for spams as well, that integrates into an email solution like above? One of the things I really liked about gmail was it's spam control.

If possible, I would like to know some experiences from those who are trying to do the same as me. I'm a beginner in Linux and sys-administration, but I dont mind having to learn all that stuff. It's an opportunity to learn some new skills.

I would like to know some suggestions for open source solutions, I dont want something really complex ("a complete enterprise groupware solution", just the name "enterprise" gives me itches), I want a simple web based e-mail account. If a web interface is not possible, at least a *nix solution very light which supports pop3/imap.

I use:

• Postfix for SMTP
• Dovecot for IMAP4 (and POP3 if you really really want it)
  • also as the SASL provider for postfix
• RoundCube for webmail when I'm away from a computer with SSH
  • SquirrelMail if you want something a lot ligher
  • or Horde IMP for something heavier
• bogofilter to filter spam (although I haven't received any yet; but that's only because the mail address is not public)
  • spamassassin is probably a lot better

It doesn't sound like you want to commit alot of time to this, so why not just use a 3rd-party email hosting service provider? There's tons of other free ones, but I've always had good experiences with RackSpace. You can host your own domain/mailbox for $2-10 a month: spam filtering built-in, calendar, Outlook/Exchange, etc.

While your data is obviously still stored in their infrastructure, they're not in the advertising business and quote, "do not read your email". Check out their privacy terms; they're solid.