It was a restructuring that got me started with my pattern. In particular I had been fortunate to take a six week trip when later that fall our group was eliminated.

In light of that restructuring my immediate focus was on finding a job again (and found one in the same company but moving). However the other thoughts were (a) I am really fortunate to have done that trip since it would be hard now and (b) if the company can "restructure" I can too ...

So I made a personal goal to get another extended trip in "five years" and worked towards that goal including asking my manager way in advance and even worked out how we could use this as an opportunity to rotate to our sister organization in CA after my trip.

Three months after my second trip, the company again restructured and closed all the offices in MA. So if I had done nothing, I would have been affected - again a reminder that I sure was fortunate to have taken such a trip when I could...