Nah, you don't NEED the nightly calls, you've just gotten used to having them. It's just like any other habit. Once you break the cycle, you're in the clear.
Another thing you mentioned is that you don't want to hear about the AA stuff. Well, if this guy is in AA, it's something that will probably continue for years, if not the rest of his life. It would be kind of hard to have a meaningful relationship with someone when you aren't interested in something that is so much a part of their life. It's just something to think about.