i miss the social benefits and that's mainly what the wtbts holds as a gun to our heads, losing so-called instant connection with people all over the world.
i miss going to europe and having instant family dinners with people i never would've met in my life.
but, i'll never miss it enough to go back. especially my circle of 30-40 close friends i had in my early 20's, i want them as far away from me as possible for their misdirected anger and instant cutting off just b/c i went inactive.
which brings up college....the wtbts is so against college b/c it's mainly a place for people starting their adult lives to connect with other people who share their same interests....it's amazing, the little college i did before the elders finally harrassed me out of college in the 90's, i'm still involved with some of those people b/c we're in the same region and shared similar career decisions.
i feel your pain...something that has helped me over the years is continuing to take classes at extension colleges, artist workshops, etc. i've made friends over the years that way.
and, i'm very active in my community in a couple of different artists scenes, volunteering, etc. that's my church and it has helped a lot to always have a project going even if it's a money loser.