I took a sabbatical a few years back for a year and a bit to travel and spend time building software I really wanted to build. I was not afraid of getting a job

I took a sabbatical a few years back for a year and a bit to travel and spend time building software I really wanted to build. I was not afraid of getting a job when I got back so this is not really the same situation as you are in but I felt like if I didn't do it back then then I never would. I thought I'd have some big life changing idea along the way but what I got out of it was unexpected and wonderful. A year for me flashes by now but this felt like a lifetime. I could sleep on night buses, in train stations, in noisy hostels. I can now talk to almost anybody about almost anything. I can finally appreciate the time between things. Waiting around is finally peaceful for me. At work people gravitate towards those that make them feel good about what they do and I don't think you can learn that magic from books. However, you may have noticed that there is a lot of "I" and "me" in these words of mine and it is true that you become more selfish. Not nasty selfish but selfish nonetheless. Your absence may also take a toll on friends and loved ones. It is also a lonely affair despite all the people you meet and what it looks like in photos. I hope that helps!