I got a little bored with just wandering around the same areas over and over, trying to map just a little more each time, so I pulled anchor and tried to go a little farther with my exploring (the game seems almost completely nonlinear).

I eventually ended up in the town of Algary, which I found near the sea. That's where I saved and quit for the night. I fought an enemy party in that town that gave me nearly 1,000 experience! So maybe there's a chance I'll be able to level up in a reasonable amount of time the next time I play.

"Any life when viewed from the inside is simply a series of defeats."
-Orwell