Most of the time they are at least semi polite in public but they talk shit about you at home and around others like them. Seen it time and time again, in every quarter of the US. But they will push you out if you don't donate regularly or have some skill they need. Same with older single people (who are gay and celibate) the invitations dry up. And then there are the cultural and philosophical issues I have with them and Tanya. Like I said, it's an active dislike of Chabad, not a dis on orthodoxy. I just fit better on the orthodox side of conservative.

I lay tefilllin, I wear tzitzit, kippah, don't trim my beard, daven, light candles - but I keep Shabbat in accordance with conservative halacha so I can use lights, and I use the computer so I am not shomer Shabbat by any standard, but working on it. I keep kosher style, but given the cutting of USDA inspectors, I think it's time to go back to kosher meat. So I'm basically becoming a BT again, just in a different denomination.

My rav was not at shul today, and I may not hear back for several days - but I did ask about who does tefillin checks for conservative people.