I'm doing it right now 
(leaving, that is, not giving you a reason why you shouldn't).
I resigned end of Sept after 8 years and worked my full notice period, leaving in December. Literally within half an hour of resigning I had a phone call from a friend whose consultancy was recruiting; he didn't want to approach me until he knew I had definitely resigned as his firm has done a lot of work with my (now ex) organisation over the years and they wouldn't want to appear to poach.
A friend/ex-colleague did something similar for the same reasons as you, JeanSeberg - his dad had died and he had some money. Not having dc he followed his dream and went out to the States for as long as his money/visa would hold out. His story upon return gave me nightmares (hundreds of applications, few interviews) but my experience has not been like that, although admittedly I still don't actually have a formal job offer :)
I knew my best chance of finding work was by tapping up mates/working my network. Things didn't work out with my friend who contacted me on the day I resigned, as the firm decided they needed a lot more flexibility about travel than I could offer. We've left it such that if a piece of work comes in that they can't resource and think I might do, I have an option to go for it.
I had one 'proper' interview that a recruitment agency approached me about, I think I might have been offered that if I hadn't declined second interview.
And I contacted someone to ask for an introduction to another place and he said 'oh hang on, we want you' - that was basically it. Just waiting for the recruitment wheels to turn (agonisingly slowly) but a job I feel really positive about awaits me there. I've also been approached about another piece of short-term work and, ironically, a contract for the very person who caused me to hand my notice in in the first place (not pursuing that one!)
It was much easier to job hunt with being openly on notice, no need to invent reasons for absence to cover up for interviews. I think a number of places I contacted would have been hesitant to have had the discussion if they didn't know I had already resigned; my friend who went to the States said in his experience once you're actually out of work you become somewhat 'tainted' with failure - I haven't found that but I have been using my network so people already know me. I suspect it would be a different story on the open market.
And I have to say, being away from a toxic job has been absolutely bloody brilliant. After years of feeling ground down by how little my organisation valued me, it's been fantastic to have people basically courting me with offers. Having time in the house and just to get my head on straight again has been brilliant.
If I could afford it, I would take a six month break for sure. I've done it before when contracting but can't afford it now (will consider it if I end up contracting for much of the year). I would write yourself a list of who you think you could approach about work (I barely got a quarter of the way through mine, so am holding the rest in reserve) and then go for it.
Be brave! :)