My wife and I spent 10 years on our 36' catamaran cruising from Canada
to Venezuela. We returned to the States in 2002. We were on a limited
budget and did not spend as much as many other cruisers that we met.
The cost per year averaged a little less that $30k. We spend 4 years in
the Caribbean and loved it. I would recommend that you join Seven Seas
Cruising Association (SSCA) at www.SSCA.org You will learn much about
cruising from the monthly bulletins.