Getting a pm is no bother. If every single member started thread in the annoucments forum when they go on holidays, imagine 200 threads on people going missing.
most of the time when people say they're going ot be gone for 3-4 months, they dont come back. It's a trend. We'll change ur status if we have to, but you can regain it once you return, if wont matter for the time ur gone nways.