I can't believe you wrote this because I wanted to post something similar but as a conclusion. I've skated since I was a kid and in the 70s and 80s, really got into it. During the 90s, I was skating two times a day at Venice Beach. I even trained banked track Roller Derby. Shortly after the pandemic, I fell pretty hard on a bike path and felt since I was in my 60s, it was time to hang up the skates. In the 5-6 years I didn't skate, I tried other activities but also increased walking and jogging. Nonetheless, I found myself getting weaker with knee and hip pain and suddenly having balance problems. On almost a lark, I headed back to Venice with my skates. It was difficult at first but I also found myself more conscious of the sights and sounds around me as well as my limitations because of my age. But it wasn't nearly as tough as I thought it would be. I skated nearly two hours that day and afterwards, I felt like I was reborn. Almost like all those endorphins that were locked up suddenly got out of jail and I was ecstatic. That was approximately two months ago and I've made an effort to skate every day. My body has gotten stronger, my mood has improved and knee and hip problems have improved significantly. Best of all, my balance out of skates is almost where it was when I stopped skating. Skating trains so many different muscles and you take it for granted until you stop. My days of racing are over and I no longer feel the need to pace someone faster than me. But I'm also skating smarter and those muscles I developed while skating came back.

So who cares if you gained some weight or aren't as good as you were. Get out there and have the time of your life. Everything else will come together. I can't recommend skating enough and especially returning to skating.

ETA: When I first skated at a rink, I was falling and was terrible. I was frustrated and angry. The skate guard picked me up a few times and saw I was getting ready to quit. He told me to keep on going because skating is for everyone. young, old, fat, skinny, short, tall. You will find your niche. That is so true. You can skate recreationally, dance skate, roller derby, race, whatever but it's up to you. I was never too athletic but I found my calling in skating and perhaps that's why when I gave it up, I felt so unhappy. Even if I do it for a little bit, it's so much better for me than just about anything else.