Nathan,
I got the plans (for Valentines from my wife!!) while I was still at University, thus I didnt have the funds to commit to building.
It was 3 years until I could start mixing epoxy. In that time I build a great workbench, made all the jigs, and made all the little brackets, aluminium hardpoints etc...
I also got to read the plans over and over and over and over (and everything else I could find CSA newsletters etc..), almost to the point where I knew how to build without actually building!!
You are also lucky in the US that you can find someone who is not too far away that would love some company building - a great way to get some experience, by the time you start you wont make all the newbie mistakes and will have the base composite skillset.
What Im trying to say is that there is so much to learn, and so many jigs and hardware bits to make to keep you busy for a while (at least a year).
Id say, if you heart is set on a Cozy, buy the plans and make a start.. It seems that the only thing Cozy builders all say is that they wished they started earlier - I wish I had.
Hope that helps.