I think everyone has painted the picture of optimizing performance and range of gearing. Since this is your first “road” bike, part of your decision should be based on what your ride now, if you have a bike, what shape your are in, and how performance oriented you tend to be.
To cut to the chase, if this is going to be a try-it-out-and-see endeavor then just find a good used bike that fits you and the terrain. If you think this is the start of an going activity, you should talk to local shops and get something you can use for the next few years. You will have to invest more now, but you will probably not need to upgrade 6 months from now.
John