I remember back in the day, as I was growing up, that if you missed a meeting, everyone knew. And even me, subconciously, would know if I hadn't seen someone.
Becoming an adult, I missed meetings a lot, and no one really said much. Not that I contributed much to the meeting anyway.
BUT
If you were to miss the assembly, or especially the memorial, you might as well be totally gone. It seemed you could miss the regular meetings ok, but to miss these others, was a sign of doom for you. You were totally on your way out if you missed those.
I still have just a couple of witness friends that I see once in a while. They know I don't go to the meetings, and we really just don't talk about it. As long as I don't make a stand, then ok. Just buying my time with them.
But I make a special effort not to be around when the memorial comes, or the assemblies. I remember the first time one friend found out that I didn't make the district convention at all. Just silence. Still get together with him and all, just limit my time around those activities.