i'm glad you are considering going back to AA. for those of us that utilize the 12 step program there are many benefits as you already know. i'm an oldtimer-22 yrs. sober. over time i learned there was no payoff to return to my old alcoholic life. i had learned there was no percentage in drinking. i had learned how to take the value out of the booze. you can too if you stay sober. it doesn't matter to debate what we know what we are. you seem to understand that premise. and one never loses what is learned in AA. when/if we return all that good stuff is still there in our minds.
some years ago i moved away-1200 miles-from my home group. everyone asked me who i knew there. i said no one yet but my new friends await me! it won't take you long to also meet the new ppl who await you. it's not the destination in our life that is important, but the journey to get there. please keep us posted and also know we're here to support you.