Thinking of people I've known that have taken off for an extended time. Very few of those were off for more than a couple years, most just one. The most life changing were for people that sold all their land belongings. That's fine for those committing to a life change. It's hard to start all over again.

On the other hand, the sabbatical can be a real burst of life for some. A break from the routines of life, work, family, household obligations. You'll miss a lot of events, some you may regret. A few friends and family at times will resent your choice(they'll get over it).

For us it was just such a positive step and its benefits continued(with a renewed plan) and still do today. We never envisioned anything more than a year sailing and traveling the east coast and Bahamas. We gave some thought to continuing, but that was enough for us at the time. I get the feeling the experience is a part of who we are today as the experience started a series of events that continue today.