A couple of years ago our neighbor casually mentioned that they always travel first class (business overseas, I think). I remember being a bit shocked at the time, because I hadn't thought of them as particularly wealthy. Since then I've come to the conclusion that it may very well be that they want to spend the travel budget while they can. They may also fly enough that they are able to take advantage of mileage rewards for some of that.
But I think they are doing what we hope to do - plenty of travel in our 60s and 70s. I still have 25 years to go (I hope!!! Knock on wood!)
I also hope to travel with siblings - or meet up at some location - when we am older and they are retired. That's a really nice way to gift to family.
Wish you well on the future travel. Good to see older people enjoying their retirement years, maximizing the "live according to the means" mantra.
In a different wealth class, we no longer travel, having had our fill in the younger years, and no longer enjoy long periods away from home, and definitely no long automobile travel.
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As to the OP, and spending decline as a function of age... I would agree, at least in our own experience. It's what I call "Phase II" ... in our case, a planned part of long term retirement planning. Essentially looking at the real expenses ... real dollars of expense today, and real dollars of later planning... for continuous care. The plan is outlined here in this post, #115:
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/sharing-23-years-of-frugal-retirement-62251-2.html#post1355291
A few comments on the foregoing posts...
Re: Healthcare... We continue to be amazed at the way Medicare and our Supplements cover even extraordinary expenses. All in all right at our planned total expenses of approximately 10K/yr.
Re: Declining expenses... Never have we had more surplus monies than in the years after age 70. Surplus, meaning we have neither need nor want, based on our slowing lifestyles. We have the funds, but not the desire. The thought of spending a mini vacation in Branson has the same appeal as a survival test in the desert.
One of the reasons for optimism about planning for future $$$ and uncertainty about the "needs" factor, is our current close association with continuing care in our CCRC... and knowing the costs, and the kind of care that may be necessary. We can plan in real time.
All in all, being fairly well along the path to "later retirement years", I would agree with the original premise that costs become less as we age. We probably wouldn't have changed our frugal ways, but a Phase II plan might have made the early days a bit easier.