If you really want to keep yourself busy in retirement you could always instruct or buy your own plane and do Angel Flight type charitable work. That way you have a 'reason' to fly, but you won't have to join the ranks of underpaid new-hires at an age where you could probably use some decent quality of life.

As in many careers, the romantic conception of commercial aviation often overlooks many of the negative aspects of the career. There's no reason though why you can't find years of fulfillment in general aviation. Best of luck