I maybe got it wrong, but I feel like part of your question was this: " Even if they are not active lately are they still there if I don't hear them in the background like others talk about?" My answer to this is YES!!! They still exist even if you do not hear them, or are unaware of them for awhile. The same way that people in Belgium still exist even though I am unaware of them.
(oh! and btw, I also LOVE Eeyore! )