Welcome, Sea Slug! I’m 41 and have a birthday also at the end of December. I finally quit drinking for good in August of 2016. This site was instrumental in that. I can’t stress enough how valuable it was/is for me.
I joined the “class of August” when I quit. I highly recommend joining the class of October, and posting/reading here often. Therapy is also a very good idea. You seem to have some good framework for a plan, which is the difference it takes to be successful getting sober.
I also love the user name.
bexxed