Take a vagabond vacation
By Melanie Chambers • Bankrate.com

"If you work in an office environment, it's hard to be the one that doesn't go out to lunch or be the one to stay at home when everyone else goes out," he admits.

To stay motivated, surround yourself with like-minded travellers. Potts suggests becoming part of a social networking group with others who are saving up for a long-term vacation. You can start your search for such groups at the chat boards at Lonely Planet or BootsnAll Travel Network.

Taking time off
Most companies have policies about granting extended time off, whether it's a sabbatical (paid leave often associated with foreign studies) or an unpaid leave of absence.

"We try to accommodate employees when we can," says Lisa Harrison, vice-president of organizational development at Autodata Solutions Inc., in London, Ontario.

When one employee wanted to take five months off to teach yoga in India, Autodata offered her an unpaid leave of absence and held her job until she returned. "It wasn't a busy time for us, and she was a great employee," says Harrison.

When the same employee wanted another leave months later, the company was busier and couldn't hold her job. "But we still keep her on contract," explains Harrison.

Another option to explore is a deferred salary leave plan whereby an employee works full time for a few years but is paid only 75 percent of his or her salary. The remainder goes into a savings account for a future trip.

Some vagabonders can't wait that long, though. "I quit my job because I was tired of the downtown Toronto Bay Street scene," says Del Ben. Before he left, he set aside a "return home" fund. "I didn't want to be rushed into getting just any job when I returned home," he says, so having that financial cushion in place made sense.

Living like a local
Potts suggests paying all debts and ensuring bills are set up to be automatically withdrawn from your bank account before you leave. Regardless if you rent or own, he also suggests having someone stay at your place while you're away for security reasons.

If you vacation for a week or two at a time, you'll spend money sightseeing, paying for museums, eating at restaurants and collecting souvenirs. But when you travel for months at a time, it's important not to blow your money frivolously.

"Don't decide to take a taxi because you're tired, that's wasted cash," says Del Ben. Instead, choose to spend your money on worthy adventures: a river raft trip in Thailand or a meal at a fancy Parisian restaurant.

Many long-term travellers decide to volunteer as a way to discover a culture, whether it's learning salsa in Spain or helping rehabilitate elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The Canadian magazine Verge is a good resource for researching volunteer or work opportunities.

Melanie Chambers is a travel writer who lives in London, Ont.