I find it helps to chat with strangers at times, also, which we do fairly often. We dine outdoors now exclusively if we go out, and that seems to help.
I was briefly chatting with a dude today because he had on a USMC hat. Turns out he was just wearing it, but he thanked me for my service before I could correct the impression. I had showed him my ring which has the EGA on it.
I often complement folks on their dogs, which can open a brief convo. Everybody here just about has a dog. One couple had a very large dog that was clearly a puppy of some kind, they said it would hit 120 pounds. I know the building in which they live, 2 BDR apts.
Beautiful dog, black, white, and light brown ....