Sounds like you started out right: being aware of your limits, and doing something well within them in order to assess your abilities and needs (both in terms of conditioning and gear.) You forgot to give us the most important piece of information: did you have enough fun that you are reasonably enthusiastic about going out again? (Gearing up is details - and there are a bunch of us here who take great delight in sharing those details with you!)

Ask lots of questions, and we'll all try to help.