Given that I'm nowhere near retirement, yet remember the halcyon days of landing drinks on the last sector of the day, and the fact that if you were positioning back after duty, your 'tonic water' on the flight home would probably not be entirely unadulterated, I conclude that we are without doubt going to hell in a hand cart.
The fact that the original poster doesn't clarify whether this positioning was before duty or after duty may be very deliberate or a red herring.
The fact that no other correspondent in this sad debate hasn't asked, is further cause for concern.
Guppy, I often assess options by asking myself whether I'm a man or a mouse... No offence, but you won't mind if I lock the cheese away next time you pass by..?