[ckdarby]

> * I thought it would be okay to be unemployed a few months so long as I have savings to tide me over. Up until recently did I not know it also makes it harder to bargain for higher pay.

False, it shouldn't make it harder to bargain. Part of planning to be unemployed is making sure you don't need to accept the first offer once trying to go back to working.

The second part is one just says they were doing freelance or consulting work while they just worked on personal projects.