Apply for OPT & travel ?

[Ravi100]

Am a student on F1 with my I-20 expiring in Dec-2006. I started in Sep 2004.

I am planning on applying for OPT sometime in Oct so that I get it by Dec 2006.

My questio is: Can I travel to my home country (India) between Oct and Dec and safely return to US w/o any immigration problems?

Is it okie for someone to travel to the home country after applying for OPT?
Please help

thanks,