Financial independence was always really important to me even at a very early age (did my parents try to control me too much through my allowance? LOL!). So I think the freeing nature of financial independence portrayed in the books I read from an earlier culture naturally appealed to me - and very strongly indeed. At first for FI for me meant getting a scholarship to college, and then having my own career and earning my own money (important as I am female - a woman financially independent of her husband was very unusual when I was a girl). Later, FI meant not needing to earn a living at all. I had always fantasized about that possibility, but when I got lucky enough in my career to see that such a thing could happen for me at an early age, I absolutely leapt at the chance - no question!
I suspect as well that I just never bought into the "wage slave" and going-into-debt consumerism that seems to be such a strong bias in our US culture. Today, a person's identity is usually defined by their career (the first question after introductions is usually - "so what do you do?") - I always hated that. Also, there seems to be a knee jerk assumption that the time one doesn't spend earning money is somehow "worthless". Education, rather than being a means to broaden one's mind and experience, is generally considered only worthwhile in pursuit of a career, etc. These attitudes have always rankled me, so I'm sure I was drawn to a period with very different attitudes that are more compatible with/reinforce mine.
However, I'm sure there are many, many cultural biases of the time period that would rankle me as well (esp. being female and not that socially inclined). We can pick and choose, can't we!
Many of my interests - bird watching(study), natural history, botanical illustration and drawing in general, classical education, were very predominant during that time. It was a period where the amateur (gentleman) scientist was in his heyday - Charles Darwin is an exquisite example. The 'professional' scientist didn't really exist yet. And, of course, then there were all the explorers and collectors and travelers....... so much fun!!!
My father was episcopal clergy (how's that for right out of the 19th Century!!!) - highly educated (doctorate of Theology from University of Heidelberg no less), and my mother was a musical prodigy, also highly educated in classical music. So at a young age I was very much exposed to a classical education in literature, art, music, etc. I also grew up in a British colony which still had some definite throwbacks to the 19th Century. I remember my parents going to the governor's mansion one evening for a formal dinner and having wear court dress!
I would have fit right into the 19th Century - assuming I had the financial means.
LOL!
Audrey
Don't have to worry about diesel fuel in the bilge water if it's one of them old sailing vessels - or even one of the modern ones as long as the motor is outboard only! 
