Regarding how to deal with re-learning the ropes of Perl...

I too get called away from programming many times in a year. What works best for me ...

1) Write programs dealing with some SMALL aspect of what you're looking for, or a small change from an example that you know works. They could be examples from modules or books or whatever.

Make COMMENTS in the program to make it absolutely clear to you what you're doing where.

Save those programs in a folder- subdirectory - flash drive, whatever.

You can keep efforts that DON'T work out, but at least keep some record (spreadsheet) of what you were trying, those that work and what they do, maybe what the glitch or last error message was.

When you come back, look back at these, so you can relearn quickest.

2) If you don't have time to do programming, do your best to follow something like PERLMONKS, or perhaps a listserv of your interest (At one time, there was a beginners mailing list that I could still learn a lot from, even after years.)

See if you can answer one or two questions posted, before reading the answers others give.

The rest of the advice you've gotten looks pretty good to me, too. Just sharing my experience.