The old big tech company that I once worked for announced a voluntary retirement package for its most senior employees. That was followed by a round of layoffs. My social media feeds are full of former colleagues saying they’ve retired and are so grateful for their careers.

Their private emails are not so cheerful. The voluntary retirement package was not so voluntary with management vaguely hinting that some employees would be laid off if they didn’t retire.

I’m blissfully detached from this. Nor do I feel sorry for them. For decades, these people were very, very well paid. When I return to Seattle, I would like to catch up with them. I’ve known some of them as colleagues, friends and mentors since my internships in the 90s.