touch base

went to a dinner party/friend's engagement party. It was a lot of small talk, oh how are you, I haven't seen you in 10 weeks. What rotation are you on, do you like it? Surviving? Any crazy stories?

And so on.

I guess what do you expect when you are in a room full of 3rd year med students.

These are the type of relationships that need this kind of conversation to "touch base".
It's not about how the rest of your life is doing or if your family or friends are doing alright and what else is bothering you.
It's the second layer of conversation. Not the first layer surface talk that doesn't matter at all, but just important enough that it impacts you and yet is still socially appropriate to talk about in a crowd.

I have much to learn about social grace.