You don't say where you got sober, but your terminology leads me to believe it wasn't around here (they don't use the term "lead"). But you do say when and go into other details and, for the most part, I could not agree more. And congratulations on 30+ years, as well. My comment has to do with fellowship culture and that you were indeed fortunate to have a supportive one as well as a supportive sponsor when you made that revelation (apparently). There are groups and areas where that would not be the case, where their so-called "singleness of purpose" would have shut you down and ushered you out, perhaps towards NA, but to be perfectly honest, for too many, that's none of their concern. When I got both clean and sober 20+ years ago, there was a fair amount of dogma in both AA and NA in my area. There still is, but it is possible to choose people and groups where those effects are low to nonexistent. The problem: How is someone who is new supposed to know who is who and where to go? As you might have guessed, I'm a bit of a pariah - but I call it as I see it and I try to help those who are struggling find a home in either (or no) fellowship where they can catch a fucking break, breathe and get their journey started.