38Chevy454
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
All the ones we reactivated at my last job were pretty much a rubber stamp. My HR guy would just search EQIP and verify that the new hire had an inactive clearance and then they'd fill out an application and it would be reactivated within a couple of weeks. It could be that we never tried to hire anyone who'd had a past problem though. In any case, I don't think an employer could see that there had been a problem, it would just show as inactive and the reactivation would then be denied at a future time.
As for clearance holders being aware of how things work, nope. Most of the civilian software engineers I worked with are downright clueless about how their clearances are managed. Ex-military are much more aware.
This is what I understand about clearances. I had clearance for my old job, it immediately became inactive upon me retiring. I was told within 6 months it is pretty easy to get reinstated, assuming good history and long term clearance held. After 6 months it requires complete new reinvestigation. For OP, I would put on resume that you held XXX clearance but then state inactive. If potential employer asks about inactive just state when you resigned from past job, it became inactive.
Since OP did not have his clearance pulled by the granting agency, he should be able to get it reinstated. Getting a new job is a different problem that he needs to work on. It may require some contract work or agency type positions to get in good with an employer that may work into a new full-time position. Lot of employers use temp positions as a trail period.
I agree that OP's financial situation is pretty good shape, he can weather the time between now and new job. He ould take the vacation already planned. Just keep in touch during the vacation.