quit work for a year: 7 steps to do it right

this was the headline of an article on msn that caught my attention. of course, they call what ive done a 'sabbatical', which makes me wish i had thought of that title sooner. the article lists some good tips, but most of them involve selling off your assets or taking from a retirement fund; since they also call it a mini-retirement, that makes sense. research has found that more and more people are taking time off from work and once they have had a few months or even a few years away, they dont necessarily want to go back to that high-paying job - they gravitate to jobs that pay less and are more altruistic. in other words, life has more meaning when you arent concerned about how much money you make and you arent giving your life to a corporation that really has no loyalty to you whatsoever. of course, easier to say that than to actually do it.

im in my 14th month, so perhaps im qualified to give my own tips on how to quit work for a year. maybe i should specify: how to quit work for a year (if you are single with no attachments).

i was explaining to one girl that i dont know very well my situation and as i was saying how i had moved to live cheaper, she said knowingly 'ah, so your parents are taking care of things for you.' my laugh probably sounded like a cackle; i couldnt help it. no, i assured her, i planned for this time off. not that my parents wouldnt help me if i got in a bind, but this is my life and if i choose not to work, then i surely will have to have another way to pay for my expenses, one that does not involve my parents.

still, im proud of what ive done in my time off. ive been able to visit family as far away as OR and TN, go to a few weddings in AL, see the birth of my niece in TN, visit HI for the first time and even threw in an international trip to england and scotland, the latter being a place ive dreamed of going to for years now.

but, i must admit, its more than the trips im proud of...