[09bjb]

As someone who has "taken a lot of time off" to spend time _on_ the things I think are important, may I suggest answering the work question with "I'm currently working on _____" or "Right now I'm spending a lot of time on _____". There are a hundred ways to direct the conversation somewhere productive and fun, but "I don't currently work anywhere and am taking some time off" does sound like an embarrassed euphemism for "unemployed." Don't be embarrassed.

[txcwpalpha]

I appreciate that advise, it's something I've been trying to do more recently, and I've noticed it does help in conversation.

The funny thing is that, even though my original comment hints at how regretful I am now of being unemployed, it didn't use to be that way. I used to be very proud of having left my job and being unemployed! I thought I had made a great decision and it didn't even occur to me until months later that people would see "taking time off" as an "embarrassed euphemism" rather than something good.

[ericd]

You should be proud. It shows that you have at least some financial discipline and ability to save, which is not something everyone can say.

It really helps to work on something interesting, even if it's very part time, and purely for fun. That might also help with your recruiting woes.

Also, sabbaticals don't seem that uncommon in the Bay Area, at least among people I know. Maybe it's a regional culture difference thing that makes it seem so taboo in your area?