[Scott from the Left Coast]

Then I will have huge gaps in my employment -- I've never held a job for less than 4 1/2 years (I've been working for 23 (since grad school) and had only 4 jobs in that time.

So I'm not sure that option works for me.

[Wneighbor]

Sure it does! :-) you were self employed. you were researching. you had saved huge amounts and were off seeing the world enjoying them.

course, all i ever say is, I was married and a stay-at-home mom. covers lots of stuff. good and bad! ;-)