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.

That's exactly how my wife and I do things.

This poor individual has never been in a lasting relationship.

If you can’t talk, in full, with your partner such that you somehow need small talk, that’s not a relationship, it’s a one night stand that happens to last for 3 months to a year.

How do people who don't like the color chartreuse expect to color things? Chartreuse is my favorite color!

I'm in this picture and my SO doesn't like it.

but seriously free will does not exist.

Absofuckinglutely. This is what I do, and what she does, though our methods of exploration vary.

Honestly, I always engage in small talk. You can hate it but I see you on a regular basis and I'm always attempting to make a connection, one day we will connect.

Some people view certain talk as smalltalk but im always up to know about the weather or bad traffic or anything I can avoid or indulge in if I can.