Jack2, I agree with many of your points! I recently moved to Japan and am doing the "fade". Roots are not that deep here as compared with my "home" congregation back in the USA. Yeah! I always wondered why I couldn't read the letter of recommendation from my former congregation. Since I'm a fading MS, it will take a little more time before I successfully "submerge". But changing congregations has made the process much more easier.
Alligator Wisdom (aka Brother "NOT Exerting Vigorously")