Hi, Countrylife.
One can be sober, but not in recovery.
Sober means abstaining from alcohol or drugs, but still locked in the thinking that makes you want to drink.
In recovery means you have admitted that you have a problem with drugs or alcohol, you full heartedly want to live a substance free life, and are taking the steps to do.
Those steps can include any or all of these things:
Going to rehab.
Going to AA regularly or working another group recovery program, like SMART, or Refuge Recovery.
Going to therapy to learn ways to cope with everything.
Posting here on SR.
Joining a monthly class here, which supports the newly sober and those trying to be.
A plan that you devise that you think will help you to stay sober.
It’s generally felt that people who work an active recovery plan have a stronger chance of avoiding relapse.
Hope this helps.