Ask HN: Sabbatical Stories

Lets hear some stories. Why did you do it? What did you do? Would you do it again?

Call it a quarter-life crisis and almost being 30, but I'm currently looking at my ability to take ~1 year off. I'm not terribly happy at work and before I buy a house and settle in for the next 30 years, this could make sense. Worst case scenario, I take a 30% pay cut in 1.5 years. Best case, I start a business or learn new skills or god forbid, relax.