You're thinking along the right lines. There are clear advantages to a .357, particularly that they are simple, difficult to mess up with, and you can practice with .38s for a little less recoil. If you do get one, you will want to mostly shoot with the double-action, meaning, don't cock the hammer first, just use the long pull of the trigger. It's heavier and takes some getting used to, but this is how you would fight in real life. There is a large variety of good revolvers to start with, most used ones are fine. Smaller ones aren't necessarily easier to shoot.
I would also recommend getting to a rental range to shoot a lot of different guns. You might well find that there are others you like just as much or more. (I have no idea how easy it would be for you to find a rental range close to where you live.)