I have to agree with the above posters. As JWs, we lack the "social outlet" all humans need, to have true friends one can speak openly and honestly with and not be afraid of judgmentalism.
What I've seen firsthand is that the "nucleus" of the congregation often has this need filled: elders, ms's, pioneers, and their families often do things together. If you're at the meetings and out in service on a regular basis, rubbing elbows with others, you get some support. If you are doing well, you have friends. But if you are having problems, have an unbelieving mate, severe health problems, or in some other way don't fit into the typical mold, you are often overlooked or ignored. My husband and I have been in both situations, so we know.
When he was an MS, when I pioneered, when we went where the need was great, we had all kinds of friends and invitations to do things socially. Many times, every weekend. But now that he's no longer an MS and I'm not a pioneer, things are different. ESPECIALLY since we started suffering depression, things have gone downhill for us socially.
Now, we rarely ever get invited to anything social, unless it's a "shower" where a gift is expected (usually from someone who has not shown interest in being a friend at any other time). We don't even get invited in field service. Almost every week, WE call around, looking for someone to work with. We only get invited out 1 or 2 times a year. Lately, it's to the point where we call 2 or 3 couples in a row, they all have service plans already, so we just forget it and don't go out at all.
Also, if we want to socialize, we almost always have to initiate it ourselves. It's very discouraging. And yet we're told not to have friends in the world. So where does that leave you? I can take not socializing alot, but my husband needs friends. And if he doesn't get them in the Hall, he will get them somewhere else. I know that. It's just all very sad. We're the ones that are supposedly "spiritually weak," but we're the only ones reaching out to try to keep the connection going.
My husband has told the elders several times that we've not had a shepherding call for 3 years. Now that we're both THOROUGHLY discouraged, they want to make one. But we're not sure it will solve anything. It almost feels like "too little, too late." We know how sheparding calls go. We already know the importance of "prayer, association, study, and service." And if we unload on them, they will just feel defensive.
If they share encouraging scriptures about how we're valued and needed in Jehovah's organization, those words will feel pretty good. But unless they are followed up by heartfelt action, they don't mean much. Making a quick call, having a cup of coffee, and sharing a few scriptures (and then going back to ignoring us again) isn't going to fix the problem.
So I don't know what we'll decide to do, if we'll have them come over or just say No, Thanks.