Given the difficulties you've gone through, it's wise to give yourself time to grieve, re-centre, and re-focus. That takes time, and a change of scenery helps.

If you can live a life of "voluntary simplicity" for a year without causing hardship for others, I say do it.

But don't lose touch with your old network of friends and business acquaintances (assuming they're positive influences). Send them postcards and letters about your adventures and travels -- they'll be insanely jealous. Buy 'em a beer when you're in town. When you're ready to get back into the game, the contacts in your network will be worth their weight in gold.

My 2¢.