[nostrademons]

A few months off won't hurt you. I've got gaps between all of my jobs and it's never been a problem. It does put you in a slight disadvantage in negotiations (companies will often bid your salary up higher if they feel like they have to hire you quickly or else somebody else will), but if you have solid skills and tangible accomplishments to demonstrate, they'll want you regardless and figure they don't want to leave you on the open market for somebody else to grab.

A few years out of the workforce can hurt you. I have a friend that decided to spend a few months traipsing around South-east Asia, that few months became 5 years, and now he worries about being unemployable.