You're making total sense, and that's why it's a good thing that you're thinking about it in advance.
For starters, don't worry about what looks your co-workers give you. If that's what you want to do, do it! It sounds great to me and will to 99% of everyone here, too. If that's the only thing worrying you then hey, nerts to them, you already have a plan.
If you do want more ideas, then brainstorm them, the crazier the better. Make a list. Eventually the ones that your "gut" likes best will start pushing themselves to the top of the list. Then research those, and start playing around with them mentally. If you're like me you'll have a few ideas that you absolutely love, but eventually you have to let go b/c they're not practical ... and other ideas that never occurred to you but all of a sudden you'll be thinking "hmmmm" and getting excited about something brand new.
Just take one step at a time. You don't have to decide right now. The deer in the headlights feeling is normal -- you'll get through it.
I hope that
@Tony's Dream weighs in, because IIRC he really mapped out a plan in advance so he might have some pointers. But how much to plan vs. how much to wing it, that's different for everybody.
If your job skill is mechanics, then I bet you can find 1000 ways to incorporate that into a nomad, non-rat-racey life. I wish I had a skill like that. And you've already got the basic travel skills down. Man, you could really go to town.
If I were you I'd just totally pull the plug on giving a rat's ass what anyone else thinks of your plan. You do you. It's what you rat-raced for all these years, you've earned it!
The only other thing I'd say is make sure your health and finances are squared away as best as you can make them. Knowing that stuff is taken care of might lower the stress level too. Also, when the blue-sky stuff gets too stressful, it's good to have a few mundane tasks to knock off; and when that gets too rat-racey, you can go back to the blue-sky.
You don't have to DO anything right now. Have some fun for awhile thinking of all the stuff you could do. If it fits, maybe try some things out on weekends. Play around with stuff and don't worry too much.
Yikes I guess I had a lot of opinions on this. Hope something in there is useful. Good luck!
