I'm sure many people are in the same boat
As things begin happening again like going out, seeing each other, you'll have more to say and talk about! I've stopped messaging many friends because we had nothing to say and I felt like I was bugging them with nothing to offer, but as things have changed I can still have conversations just less often. It's probably why you feel the conversations are dead. My friends used to call every night in lockdown 1 and not a single time in lockdown 3, stuff has just changed.
Socialising is like riding a bike! Over lockdown, I've reconnected with a friend that was my best friend for about 7 years, then at uni she changed. I invited her over once and my housemates asked me not to invite her back, like it was bad. And then I went to see if she was around and she changed again and the conversation was a bit stiff when we started meeting up but now it flows (met up 2 times with stiff convos, meet up 4 times with great convos, most recently our bets one yet, felt like old times) which shows to me its like riding a bike and we will get there again. I hope this offers you some encouragement.
In summary it's going to take time, but we are nearly there I hope!
Gossiping is a bad habit and it's a good thing you've kicked it!