Vps – Host the 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.