@ George - If I sold my house and bought 2 small ones I could reduce the required $1700 even further. Rent would be an income and my living expenses would be reduced by having a smaller area to heat/cool etc. I think every $100 I can reduce my cost by equates to about $30,000 saved.
@Mo - I am not borrowing any money, I have no debt and unemployment will cover my living expenses for a year. So my choices as I see them are:
1. I can take the year off and I will be just as rich/poor as I am today.
2. Get a job and try to save a few thousand dollars
3. Build some kind of business that covers my expenses.(1700)
There is the element of lost opportunity cost but the risk is 0.
The way I see it I cannot loose.