I've been a teacher for many, many years - but just quit my job to go out on a long 2 1/2 year trip! This is the third time I've quit to go touring - the first time was back in 1990, when I spent a year cycling Pakistan, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. then I taught for 16 years before getting up the courage to do it again - that time around the US and Mexico with our kids. And now we're riding from Alaska to Argentina with the boys.
No, we don't really have "enough" money for our journey, but we'll make do. We saved diligently for retirement, and are now spending some of that money. The way we figure it, life is too short NOT to do it!!