Not quite sure what your point is MP. Forced redundancy is not the same as voluntary retirement. I lost my job at bmi mainline in Jan 2002 aged 50, and had no income for 6 months until finding another job, albeit as an FO for the remainder of my career. I had only been at bmi for 7 months.
I know that very many former colleagues in their 30's, 40's, and 50's face the stark reality of losing their jobs permanently. Perhaps thousands. You were one of the few lucky ones in this unstable profession. And you came from another era. Few if any today will be offered VR, it will be the same forced redundancy that I had no choice but to accept. I am not criticising you, just asking what the relevance of your post is to today's pilots.
(Could't stand Bishop btw. Nasty piece of work)