[logicalmonster]

Just a small bit of advice.

A lot of companies use recent employment as a filtering mechanism: if you have a big gap in technology employment, you might have trouble getting interviews.

I'd say to create an LLC on your own that serves as a consultancy and to put that on your resume that you're working with them to plug this gap. Register on freelance sites and take any jobs you can: even shit underpaid jobs. Make some money and get your skills a little current and use that to bypass the hiring filters.