Well, I would say that a summer league sounds like something that might do you some good!

A lot of summer leagues are filled with "non-bowlers" just looking for a reason to get out and socialize.  It really makes for an ideal time to work on your game or practice new techniques.  Do you really want to work on something new during a fall league?

Of course you could skip a league and just practice occasionally, but it sounds like you might not stick to a practice schedule.  It's sort of like getting a gym membership - its too easy to say "I'm too tired to work out today" or "I've got something else to" and then blow it off for a few weeks.  With a league you have a commitment to the rest of the team, so it's sort of like a "forced practice."

That's just my 2 cents.  You could just not bowl all summer, take up golf, tennis, or something else and then hope that come fall you find the desire to bowl again.

I hit this wall in my senior year of college, after bowling constantly on the road up and down the East Coast. I went back to bowling more of a social/fun league that fall after I finished college, then went back to competitive bowling the following year in my local classic league.

Nowadays I have a love for bowling that goes year round- I like to bowl in the summer leagues in different houses to get the chance to compete against a fresh set of people, as well as see how I can compete on different conditions.

Matt

First off, your balance has always sucked.  But you can use that to your advantage.  Set a goal that you want to correct your balance problems.

Take the summer off and do some outdoor activities.  This will be my second summer of no leagues and I'm fine with it, when I go back in the fall I'm ready to go.  

Part of the problem could be the conditions down there.  Unless things have changed, all the THS's down there are pretty easy.  Why not try to organize a group and start a sport shot league.  

Final thought, I don't think dropping to 14 is a good idea.  All the people I know that have done so haven't faired well.  It caused them to really muscle the ball because it's so light they don't even notice they are fighting gravity.  Unless you sustained an injury, stick with 15.
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