I left my last job because it wasn't really going how I wanted it to go. My wife and I have setup our finances such that we can live on a single income. For almost two years I did nothing but tinker on toy projects, personal projects and explore electrical engineering. I certainly found interesting companies along the way to apply for, and took contracting jobs that interested me, but largely I got to just explore. I finally found a job at the beginning of the year that felt right and was interesting enough for me to want to get involved.

I have always had the attitude that work should be something you look forward to each day. If you aren't, leave. I have never worried about the consequences of those decisions because financially we are fine and with software engineering opportunities always available, I don't feel a sense of urgency to take the first thing that comes along. I know that not everyone is so privileged to live this way, but with careful financial planning, it's been enough for me.

We all need rest, we all need time away. Plan your life according to you or your family's needs, not clients and not companies. We only get one chance at life, why waste it being unhappy in the pursuit of some distant future that may never come.