Do people notice much difference between the two?
for me there was a difference and it was a wee bit different than most differents.
the first 6 months of the first year had a whole lot of time fighting the obsession to drink. the next 6 months were learning a lot more about life on lifes terms.
the 2nd year was the start of a 2 1/2 year fight with cancer. TONS of new fears to overcome and life on lifes terms to learn.
but i never once had a thought of a drink - i no longer had the obsession.