Originally Posted by Rowan
Very, very few people have either the resources or the commitment to tour the world in one hit. But like eating the elephant, bit-by-bit is a good way to go.
And from that practical point of view, the most significant problem is sustaining oneself. That means money. That means either investments or finding employment along the way. And with the restrictions imposed by many countries on visas, this can be quite difficult.
I have the ability to make a damn fine bit of money in a few years without spending much of it. Such is the life of a sailor... I'd try to save over $100,000, invest a portion of it and tuck away the rest. Dividends from the investment should sustain (in theory, it's a gamble) the drain on the savings. If not, the savings would be the buffer. If it ever got too low, I could always head home..