I’m interested in making a website with my own domain name. I have hardly any web page making skills yet but I think I could learn quickly.

I’m not sure how to start off the “getting a website” process though and I’d rather not get a free website from angelfire or anything like that.

I want to register a domain name and I’m not sure whether I’d rather get like a 5 year registration from somewhere cheap or a more expensive “domain name forever” (which sounds really good). I’d want a domain name forever because i might stop using the site for a while and come back to it later, and i wouldn’t want to keep the web hosting during the break but still keep the domain name. My requirements for web hosting are easily met. Two digit figure bandwidth/storage are probably fine.

Option 1 is from e.g. 3ix.org getting a domain name AND a web hosting – i believe its total $21 a year.
Option 2 is getting a more expensive plan like webhostingpad.com but getting a domain name forever and being able to switch hosting after a year or so. First year costs nearly $60.

Questions:
- Am i mistaken about anything I’ve said, have i been misled
- If my needs are practically met by any service provider, what is my best option? (not necessarily one i’ve mentioned)
- By the way is there a way to buy a domain name forever without web hosting?

Gossimer