Long Term Career Advice: Going Independent and living overseas?

(If you read the elitetrader forums, I've posted a similar discussion there..)

Although I'm trading for a hedge fund at the moment, my long term career goal is to go independent and trade my own capital once I've saved my salaires from over the years and gained valuable experience.

I enjoy Finance and Trading very much (particularly Quantitative Trading).. however, deep down, I'm more of a "work to live" guy rather than a "live to work" person. One of the benefits of Trading independently is that I won't be constrained by my choice of location. I can live in any country I have the right to visit as long as an internet connection is available for online trading. (Trading hours might be a problem, especially living in Asia where the NYSE opens in the middle of the night local time.)

Visas and immigration might also be a problem (i.e. 90 day limit in the EU)..

Are there any successful independent traders here who have chosen to pursue such an overseas lifestyle while trading remotely? Your experience would be helpful to know.