Hi there drexl_spivey, welcome to the forum.
Solely in 'technical' aspects, your best starting point would be to visit and review the UKBA website and understand the listed requirements and supporting documentation needed to secure the settlement visa.
You will then be in a much better position to seek any help or clarifications needed to achieve your stated goal.
Plenty of people here followed the very same route you are now contemplating.
You will find genuine help and support from genuine people.
Good luck.
PS: There is a very strong chance that the settlement visa rules will be changed April 2012. The requirements will not get any easier for sure. From what is already known it will be much tougher and much stricter. Might be worth to have your 'down-date' plan within the next 8months.
