Is it wise to take a mid-career retirement right now and wait out the layoffs or miss the AI boat?

Just got laid off. Unlike a lot of the big tech firms that did it to boost their stock prices and make it look like they’re using AI, my company was actually struggling. Financially, I’ll be just fine for a year or so. Additionally, I was already thinking of making a big relocation next summer, and also have really wanted to take a long time off after never fully mentally recovering from a medical battle 5 years ago (not COVID but made wayyyyy worse by it). I just went straight back to work and I don’t think I ever fully processed the event. I think it really impacted my work. Personally, taking a long break right now I think would be really really good for me. I also just put down a big deposit on a huge once-in-a-lifetime Europe trip next April that I was saving up PTO for. Starting a new job knowing I’ll probably be doing it again soon if it’s not remote and able to take with me, will only add to the problem. But remote jobs are the most competitive right now. I’d rather take the time, destress and find the right job in my new place and be so fresh and ready to start my next chapter, instead of stressing over finding a job against the masses that also just got laid off, knowing it may only be temporary. And circumstances have set me up perfect for it.

My sole concern is being out of the workforce as AI really takes off and worry I’ll miss the boat. Or maybe I’ll time it right and come back into the workforce as companies realize they still need real people working with AI.

What’s everyone’s sentiment? I was a senior software engineer, with over a decade experience in API development and a strong side affinity for database work.