It helps a lot to find a group with shared interests.
For 18 months or so now, for me, that is cars. I know a bunch of people based strictly on a specific shared interest. We meet every week, not everyone makes ot every week.
A lot of people default to "talking shop" to fill in awkward silences. This is why navy men have a long standing rule that when you are in a bar, if someone mentions anything to do with the boat, they have to buy everyone a drink.
You might find a group with a similar rule, if you try a few more.
Having other shared ground to cover is a big help. With the car guys we can fill in the silence by talking about the new focus rs, or that video of the moron who destroyed his mustang with a poorly set up NOS system that backfired while he was street racing and he didn't have a fire extinguisher. "Where's that mountain dew?!" - he will never, ever live that down.