I became a snowboard instructor and kayak guide for a couple of years, then worked for a couple as a programmer, then spent two years driving Alaska->Argentina, before working 4 years in IT again. Now I'm taking 3+ years off to drive around Africa.

In my experience, "gaps" on my resume have not been an issue. In fact, I put that time front and center, to show my resourcefulness, ability to teach myself Spanish, think on my feet, etc. etc. I'm asked about it in interviews, and I've never seen it affect my chances negatively.

While I have not climbed the corporate ladder like my friends I graduated with 10 years ago, I have not experienced any problems finding work because of "gaps" on my CV. I genuinely think that's a common myth created to stop people taking time off.