[brailsafe]

This seems a bit neurotic and presumptuous to me. First of all, you can't control what others think of what you've factually done. Second of all, did you actually found anything or are you just taking time off to work on a side project with plans to return. Lastly, whichever it is, that's the way it is, what's to worry about? What would you do instead of working on your side project, and what would the hypothetical benefit be?

Anecdotally, I have an absolutely god awful employment record, and the market is also miserable. In previous layoffs, it's taken longer than a year to find a job regardless of what I'm doing during the down turn. I rarely even get a phone call back these days, but when I'm asked about what I'm doing now I say "I was laid off, and am taking time to work on some personal projects and find the next worthwhile company."

[brailsafe]

I'd add that I don't feel like neuroticism is an inherently negative thing, but when you're getting into the territory of ruminating about how people will perceive the fairly obvious path you're taking, it does strike me as unhealthy. If I needed to get divorced, would it be healthy to think about the hypothetical impression others would have of that to the point where I wouldn't get divorced?