That "hometown" clause got me too, Dams.
I had been away from the flock and it's loving shepherds for around 5 years before they tricked me into a JC in my own home.
Apparently they didn't care what I did as long as I lived in any of the nearby towns (and all the elders in those towns knew each other, and most of them knew me personally). But then I moved back to my hometown after a serious car accident, lived with my JW mother while I recuperated, then got my own place and a job.
Three of them showed up at my door one evening, unannounced. (I think it's supposed to be wolves that hunt in packs, not shepherds, eh?) I had grown up around these guys and figured they wanted to see how I was doing after the car accident and subsequent divorce and all, so I let them in. But what they wanted to know was: do I still believe the org is God's FDS? and is my ex free to remarry?
Fine thanks. How are you?
~Merry