I've taken to consulting. It allows me to stay up-to-date and make new professional connections. I also take lots of time off between gigs. This year, I worked 5.5 months, took 10 weeks off, then worked 6 weeks. Now I've been relaxing for the past three weeks and am (lazily) trolling for another gig. What's been nice about consulting for me is that it is perfectly acceptable to dip in and out.
If your skills are in demand, look for consulting firms in your area to learn more. In most major metro's there are both large (national or international) and small, local firms.