I disagree on the padded shorts and gloves. Get them only if you need them - not everyone does - and they come with their own issues (too much padding, badly shaped padding, chafing caused by poor fitting padding, hand numbness from poor fitting padding in gloves, etc.). When I started riding I went out looking for good fitting padded shorts, but I couldn't find any so I rode in yoga shorts. I think this helped me to resolve all my saddle issues as there was no "protective barrier" between me and the saddle, and I found that once I had the right saddle the padded shorts didn't matter for me. This revelation has saved me a lot of $$ and hassle!

+1 on making sure you're ready for a flat. You never know when you'll get one. Also make sure you have a good fitting helmet and that you always carry ID when you ride.

Welcome to TE and to cycling!