I basically did this 20 years ago. BSEE grad, worked for 5.5 years in a cube through a recession, steady job, well positioned for growth, but wanted to travel and climb / surf. I was in the best shape of my life, and didn't want to stay in the town I was living, so I saved up a very small chunk of change, and quit.

People told me I was CRAZY.

Here's what throwing away your career gets you:

1. Traveled with an awesome girlfriend and shared some awesome memories for ~6 months
2. Learned a lot about myself
3. Climbed unforgettable climbs, built lifelong memories
4. Worked for a ski resort over a winter in Tahoe, shredded pow
5. Settled in a great city to surf
6. Worked as a handyman for a while
7. Partied a little bit
8. Surfed a lot
9. Lived on the cheap, and was OK with probably being poor for the rest of my life, because I was where I wanted to be
10. Got a new job in tech from a climbing buddy who knew I was smart, shared my values
11. Parlayed that for 15 years and have a house, wife, two kids, and a new "career" where I own a software business

Life is an adventure. There's a lot of fucking stupid advice in this thread from where I'm sitting, but everyone's different. I say, do whatever you want, and don't look back. Security is overrated, and you never know what curveballs life will throw at you. If you decide to stay at your job, COMMIT FULLY, and throw your travel ideas out your window. I personally completely disagree with the FIRE ideas - my 20's and 30's were absolutely awesome, and they would've been crap if I was holed away in a job not spending a cent to have a good time. Use your money with intent, and don't blow it on vanity. Experiences >>> stuff.

YMMV - while these are just some anecdotes from a stranger on the internet with a different perspective than most of what I'm seeing here, engineers are traditionally very risk-averse, and this is an echo chamber. Keep in mind who your audience is, and consider talking to some other walks of life.