Experimenting with "Real" UNIX and using it in place of Linux

Just a comment here. I normally use LinuxLite 5.2. Have been playing with / testing OpenBSD. I normally use a notetaking mashup of my own design that includes cherrytree, rednotebook, freeplane, basket-notes,and Gummi combined with a set of scripts to edit and display notes(++) in Latex and HTML. In trying OpenBSD, I found that Cherrytree and basket-notes were unavailable. I investigated using emacs in combination with org-mode and org-journal. Holy Cow, what a curve. Between editing the init.el file and installing the archives,etc, I got to the point that not even diary worked, much less org-journal. Ended up deciding to use OpenBSD for web development for the time, and leave note-taking to my personal system on Linuxlite 5.2. Had to completely uninstall emacs and reinstall on both systems, with no mods / extra packages. Have not given up, and will go after this again, but I have got to admit my fingers and brain are a bit burnt. I really like the "old School" feel of OpenBSD, but as far as completely switching at this point, I am stopped by the note-taking. Any one else used / like the various free unixes? Suggestions on good emacs tutorials for next time?
Later
swgeek