I retired last September and was surprised at how quickly the time goes by. There are no Mondays and everyday is the weekend. I quickly fell into a good routine of exercise, music activities, Audible and Kindle book learning, and greyhound rescue volunteer work with my wife. Never try to get useful information from the Social Security Administration over the phone. Only the people in the offices have a clue regarding the laws. Once you are debt and mortgage free and the kids are on their own its amazing how much less you really need to live well.
You're right. It's the easiest way to go - pay everything off of then 'live within your means'... zero stress...