Everyone's story is somewhat different and there is no reason to be hesitant to post your story.
I tried moderation. I did fine for the two months of no drinking. First scheduled day to drink and I only had one drink, albeit a large pour of Blanton's that you would be given at a bar. Next day - no drinking. Third day, which was supposed to be no drinking started about 45 days of drinking. Not drunk all the time, not drinking all day. Even if it was one beer, it did not correspond with my moderation plan.
I eventually realized, for me, it took more effort and anxiety to attempt moderation than it did to stop drinking all together.
I don't miss drinking very often. I have no problem going out with buddies and drinking a water, coffee, or something else. No problem pouring my wife a glass of my bourbon*. There are times of stress when I feel the urge or remember what it was like to numb the senses with alcohol. In those, times I "play the tape to the end" and am well aware of where I end up if I take that first drink.
The majority of my support comes passively from the guys here. I haven't been to AA, haven't read the Big Book, and haven't consciously performed any steps. This is the only thread on here that I read every time there is a post and read through the entirety of long posts. In the last year or so, I started realizing that I would probably benefit from AA and the 12 steps - just haven't taken the my step yet.
*after four years and three months, my wife finished a half-bottle of Buffalo Trace. I had the other half on the last day I drank. Some people are just different.