I know what you mean. I gave it up and felt so free (and safer, privacy-wise!). I don't feel so tied to G+, like I originally did with FB. I occasionally look over my friends page, but sometimes I'll go a couple weeks without it, and I'm okay with it. Events end up in email. If someone messages me, I get an email and I'll check it.

I deactivated my FB account, but if you hang onto it, just set a once-a-week time for checking messages. Remind people of where they can contact you with a post now and again. Maybe once a week at first, then once a month for a few months. Reply to messages via email or another method you would prefer they use. That should give people a more-than-reasonable way to connect with you.

I'm doing more posts to try to get my friends talking again. Let's see how this works.