WRZP212

The kind of contacts you’ve described are typically done using an HF radio on the ham bands.  VHF and UHF (like GMRS) are really not great at making long distance contacts and for the most part the GMRS service is really not intended to make long distance contacts, although there are a few people who get on some of the networked repeaters on GMRS.
If you just want to make quick contacts without actually talking to someone you might enjoy one of the digital modes, like FT8, where your computer decodes a list of incoming calls and you attempt to connect, just long enough for your two computers to exchange signal reports.
If you actually wish to talk to someone HF phone or a digital handheld and a hotspot might be more interesting.  There are a lot of us old men (I’m not offended at all, I’ve heard some conversations that really do nothing to attract others to the hobby) but not everyone is an old man, and with a little persistence you can find others who share your interests.

If you're hearing traffic from Arizona on a GMRS channel, more than likely you are hearing the traffic on a nearby GMRS repeater that is linked with the Southwest Community Radio System (SWCRS). On Sunday the Net entertains an on-the-air discussion on various topics and on Wednesday the Net has an on-the-air discussion on the topics of anything radio whereas you can ask technical questions. The Southwest Regional Net is networked with repeaters in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Utah, and has been expanding into other States.
If the nearby repeater that you hear this traffic from is an open repeater you can join in by following the Net protocol. I'm not sure if the nearby repeater to you is associated with a GMRS Club but you can checkout the Net rules on the SWCRS website at www.swcrs.org
All you need is a radio capable of hitting the repeater and have the subject freq/tone info for access. If the repeater is a closed repeater than you must seek permission from the repeater owner or if the repeater is a Club repeater, you may need to be a member of that respective Club.
By searching this website you can find out what are the repeater particulars.

Do both.
You're welcome.
WRQC527 / K6ITR

I agree to have both GMRS and amateur licenses. I suggest getting a general class license since it opens up all of the HF bands that technicians can't access. 

Do both.  (Is there an echo in here, in here, in here?) 

For making contacts and talking anonymously with strangers, you should also look into the Grindr app for your phone.