Post merge, what do I do with my <32 ETH?

Right now I am buying and hodling, just like I have been for a long time. But I do not have 32 ETH. So afterwards, what would I do other than hodl? What exactly does it mean for me to "stake" it? I assume I could get into a pool that can stake with my ETH and other people's. But I also assume that would be tying it up and I would not be able to sell it for a period of time. Is it like…investing it where I could in theory get more back after letting sit as staked coin? What it is doing during that time period being staked? I also assume that I will still be able to buy it via an exchange and stick it in my wallet. If I accumulate 32 ETH could I then stake it on my own? Am I correct about any of this? This is all very confusing.