Should I take some time off from my job?

I'm not sure this question is even valid for this newsgroup but here
it goes anyway. I'm a 49 yr old guy who has been in the software
industry as both a techie and for the last 8 years a sales rep. Like a
lot of my friends in this industry I'm burned out and have been
thinking of either a career change or just recharging my batteries and
finding a new company. Our home is paid for and so are all our cars.
We have no debt whatsoever and we put a good deal of money in the bank
during the good times. Even now I continue to make great money but
simply have lost all faith in my company (software) who continues to
slide into oblivion. We're down to about 34 people now. So my life is
spent on airplanes and listening to people say how important it is
that I continue to bring in the revenue. I've been the number one rep
for 5 years straight. I want to quit so bad I can taste it. I just
mentally haven't been able to make the leap yet. I've never been
unemployeed since graduating from college. I could easily go 5 years
without having to work but it would also mean burning through a lot of
cash we've set aside. I have no intention to be unemployeed that long.
I'm thinking 6 months to a year off at most. My questions are:

1. Am I nuts for walking away from a solid 200k to 300k a year?
2. Are there others out here who have done this and if so I would love
to hear from you.
3. All advice is welcome.
4. I can only read your responses out here not via email for job
related reasons.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Citi Financial has many stories of people who walked away from high-paid job
and built their own business with support of the biggest corporation over
the world. How about getting the same 200-300k, but in your own business
(not in the first year, for sure) and no glass ceiling? Please, don't
hesitate to send me your request for more information (CV attached would be
helpful).
Nikolay Chikhachev