Reminds me of a bunch of years ago, I worked evening shift so I would go to the gym about 10am every day. You're absolutely right, you get into a gym routine, same guys lifting at the same time, usually throwing their stuff in the same locker area.
I used to see a guy about 20 years older than me and we'd BS lifting or changing out etc, for about a year or two. We never got deep into any one detail about our lives and never really talked about jobs or anything.
One day I have to go to Court for a domestic abuse case and low and behold I'm in uniform as the arresting officer, and he's the Judge presiding over the case! Haha... it wasn't awkward or anything just a surprise. We still BS'd and stuff after at the gym but it was a little different.