OP: It's been almost three years ago that I left on a voluntary RIF the second time I put in for it. I didn't get it the first time after being told by my director that our group wasn't being "targeted" in that RIF. I had prepared myself emotionally after 38 years of service to leave and move on into retirement. Yes I was very dissapointed I didn't get it.
Move on about three months later and another RIF announcement was released and I applied for a voluntary RIF again. I was approved the second time and left with my six month severance. I enjoyed my 37 year engineering career at Honeywell as far as the job was concerned and left being proud of what I accomplished. I had already decided I would leave anyway if I didn't get it the second time.
As the late great Yogi Berra stated, ""It ain't over till it's over."