I'll offer a story a little different from most here. I was newly graduated and working at Accenture, erm, Andersen Consulting at the time. They had an incred

I'll offer a story a little different from most here. I was newly graduated and working at Accenture, erm, Andersen Consulting at the time. They had an incredible deal in light of the recession, where you could take up to a year unpaid leave (I can't remember how benefits worked out, was too young to care) and be guaranteed a job upon your return. I took the entire year to travel. There was always the worry that they'd go back on their word, but they didn't, for me or for anyone else I've heard from. And when I came back I was at my same client as prior (eBay) and had a few years of low rent and light traffic in San Jose, after which I bailed for less congested pastures. (Actually I don't remember rent going down too much. But traffic definitely got lighter.) I don't know how to arrange things so that it works out that well in your favor, but maybe try planting some seeds in your manager's head if it looks like the next downturn might be temporary (they always are). And don't own too much stuff, so you can take off at will. (I literally packed all my belongings in the trunk of my Jetta and left it in storage).