> I also hate how our smalltalk starts with "What do you do for a living?" That's a fair question, but its depressing when that's the first one and all we really talk about.

What's so depressing about that, and what would you suggest people ask instead? People's careers take up a lot of their time and provide their livelihood, and a lot of people are quite proud of their careers. Sure, things like sleep and diet are probably more fundamental to a person's wellbeing, but it's pointless to start smalltalk with "how much sleep have you been getting?" or "what is your diet like?".