First of all - good luck to you on your journey!
I have taken into account the same principle by new - I want to be free. I haven't made any real plans as to how to be academically free and such, but I am definitely planning to work towards that. You don't feel the feeling of freedom until you are actually free!
I can tell you it feels so good to be free from the corporate chains. From tomorrow on I won't be bound to a fixed apartment either and I guess then it'll feel even better :)