Safest Way to Buy and store bitcoin

[tehfox]

I'm new to Bitcoin and I was wondering if the safest way to buy and store it for the long haul (other than buy it from someone selling it) would be to buy it from somewhere like Mt.Gox, transfer it to an alternative wallet (on a a livecd and use a USB) then store the USB.

[thefendall]

I do the encrypted USB route.  I store most offline then I even run my small active wallet from USB.  Constantly have to wait for updates of chain when taking it in and out but seems like a good option. I also use a good virus protection, worth the money.  It blocked a port attack a few months back