Just to set the record straight, I'm not actually an Essex lad myself. I have half Essex roots - mother was Southend born and bred. Well, Leigh-on-Sea, to be precise, you know, the posh end! The other half is far more exotic, but shall remain a mystery in order to maintain an enigmatic air. My Spanish friends and neighbours all call me Roberto; back in Essex, I'd just be plain boring Rob. I do not drive an XR3i. I drive a boring diesel Mondeo. My better half is a sophisticated Scouse lady of Chinese decent, so about as far from the blonde bimbo image as possible!
Whilst I have had a few odd jobs here, I have mostly worked for myself. A large number of foreigners here do run their own businesses, since it's so hard to get a decent job otherwise. But don't be discouraged. The "anything will do" attitude will help, and often one thing leads to another, so the important thing is to stay focussed and be determined. Avoid getting caught up too much in the partying, because, as the missus always says, it's the early bird that catches the worm!
If you really want to see as much of the world as possible, one suggestion, and certainly what I'd do given my time over, is to try to get work on a private yacht. You would only be able to start off as a deckhand, literally scrubbing decks, but it can be a great way to combine travelling and earning a good wage (tax free, too, as it's off-shore!) with all accomodation and food expenses seen to. Palma de Mallorca, where I started out in Spain, used to be the hot spot. It's now more centred around Antibes in the south of France, but if you go to Gib, it may be worth making a nuisance of yourself around the docks there, as many yachts stop by for refueling there.