[dukeflukem]

One thing I regret is not taking a year off before kids to explore such things or one thing in depth. Without kids its quite affordable you can move anywhere in the world and live frugally. Have all day and all mental energy to explore with time to balance this with fitness/socializing/ meditation etc.

Hardest thing is the social taboo. You'd be spending a year working away for no income and no recognition. Or at least nothing guaranteed. That would be seen as madness (or baaaaa-d) by the masses.

[ambivalents]

I considered taking six months off and renting a cheap apartment somewhere in Spain. It's still a possibility, but the social taboo is definitely a strong force. Met with questions like, 'but what about your career?', 'what will you do for income?', 'health insurance?', etc., all seem to have the effect of putting me back in my dutiful, rule-abiding place. Sigh.

[muzani]

I did it with kids. It's not so bad. I only regret not doing it properly when I was in school.