I think I am just like you.

I love how you categorised three types of people, and my experience is very similar to yours. The in-betweens are the most difficult. I put the people I work with in this category often. I might see them most days and, of course, we talk about work, but their is a definite reluctance to go deeper.

Yet, perhaps because I am a therapist I can often meet random strangers in a bar and they tell me their life story.

I think you have hit on something here. If you don’t mind me suggesting you could start a whole series called ‘talking points’ Invite people to submit a random piece of artwork they have made, or a favourite unusual possession and see if you can create a whole conversation around it.