Thousands of people, every year, do just that. Once you get out there, you'll meet tons of them and it'll seem like the most logical and right thing to do.

Here, in "real" life, however, it will seem extreme and risky. People will bring up the dangers to your career, dangers of getting hurt out there, dangers of not finding a job when you come back...

I digress, it's only weird or extreme to do something like that if you ask people who have played it safe their whole lives. Long term independent travel, to me, is the holy grail. People who haven't done even a bit of it have absolutely no idea what they are missing out on and have no frame of reference for what it is like.

It is amazing. The places you see, the people you connect with, the pace of life, the person you might discover yourself to really be, it is amazing. What I would do to give everyone some of the experiences I've had (and I haven't even done that much).

I know this all sounds very condescending. Who do I think I am? Do I think I'm so special, some first world backpacker who thinks he isn't a tourist. Whatever. I can't make any excuses anymore. Travel can change you in the most positive ways possible. It can greatly improve how you live your non-travel life. You become less afraid, less stressed out, less hung up, more open to experiences, better at meeting people, more interested in cultural differences, more socially graceful, I could go on.

Do it.

Rolf Potts' vagabonding will teach you what you need to know or get you started in the right direction:

http://www.amazon.com/Vagabonding-Uncommon-Guide-Long-Term-Travel/dp/0812992180