Welcome back, Outdoorsman. Your eight months of sobriety wasn't a waste--you learned a lot and you can use that to formulate a plan that will work. I needed help to get and stay sober--a lot of it. I went to inpatient rehab, see a therapist weekly and volunteer with my church and a local museum as a way of helping others and getting away from my self-centeredness.
Wishing you all the best on your sober journey. Good on you for 4 days.