Hello Bayer:
I am many decades younger, and have immense respect for my elders ( I am not a lawyer) who have survived my lifetime's worth of working hard in a professional field, maintaining relevance, and navigating the shifting political challenges. So I am sure that I could learn years of advice from you, but feel compelled to share with you what I read in your posts.
I think you do know what you want in life. And you, in the latter stage (I hesitate to say final b/c I know many happy working physicians and lawyers in their 80's), suddenly find your intentions molested (I can't think of a better word right now). And it sounds to me like retirement is not what you want. Rather, it is professional and personal fulfillment. But isn't the latter what we all seek for? Although it sounds like your personal fulfillment was achieved through profession. And that for many decades, your work was considered honorable.
Some people have a family with kids. Some people have a significant other or life partner. Some people have a volunteer passion or hobby passion. All of these people then have something which lights a fire in their heart, to help or to sustain them, when the daily grind of human living and work become unbearable.
Maybe now could be a time for you to begin to cultivate that? If someone spurns your love, then the usual understanding is that person is not worth your love. Chris succinctly stated it.... how long would you choose to continue to expend your life energy, your hopes, and even at 60- your dreams on something unworthy?
You are not the sum of your professional accomplishments. Likewise, you are not the sum of your rpofessional shortcomings. Similarly, you are not the sum what you did not achieve and what your high school colleagues did achieve. Rather, you are valuable for who you are. The lives you have helped. Those lives who have been meaningfully affected by who you are, and yes, your knowledge and expertise.
I think this would be easier (maybe?), if you had a wife (dog, SO, etc) of 40 years who was still by your side and could look you in the eye and say:
Bayer? Screw them. Forget them. They don't know that you ARE a wonderful and important human being. You mean the world to me. Sure, keep working if you want the bonus, the paper to say no negligence was committed.... but whatever, you are still IMPORTANT to me. No matter what.
So, I am not sure if there is something that can give you that satisfaction of feeling. But it is never to late to start working on it. I'll be quiet now since this is already too long, but i wish you the best luck Bayer.
p.s. The feisty part of me, when the sword fell, would have joined a non-profit in non or low paying capacity working cases agaist the offending firm.