If you’re a social and relatively smart person (or just take the minimum requirements) high school is probably really fun and easy. If you aren’t social high school is either a job or a prison.
If you liked high school more than adult life then you probably peaked in high school.
Personally I think that small talk is also regional. Some places small talk might be discouraged at a store while other places it might be encouraged. The same might be for the subway, a restaurant, the bathroom, etc, depending on the country or culture it may be totally ok or exceptionally discouraged.