When I first got sober at 21, I did AA for the first 8 years or so. Then met my wife and moved on with my life remaining sober another 15 years.
That being said, long term sobriety requires a spiritual and emotional shift in our perception of ourselves and the world around us. It is an integral part of recovery, regardless of what type of recovery program you choose. You can find many paths to spiritual growth, AA is only one of them. But if you become stagnant spiritually, you may end up drinking again, as was my case after 23 years.
Today, I attend 3-4 AA meetings a week because I need the social aspect of it. I am a loner and an introvert, both things I want to change. AA gives me easy access to people who have the same goal that I do, grow and don't drink.