Hey 1313 can imagine you were caught by surprise with the run in. That's ok, next time you will be ready. Make sure when you go out you look good. I bought clothes just to wear out.
IMHO While it may be uncomfortable, I think you might have wanted to smile and wave. F them make them feel uncomfortable by you acting nice. Imagine her saying to W, 'I saw 13 today, he looks good and seemed in a good mood.' W may think WHAT he is supposed to be miserable because I LEFT him. At least it shows your GALing. Not saying be friends but "Hey! How are you doing." if they engage you and you are not comfortable "Sorry I really gotta get going, I have this thing at___________." Maybe I am wrong on that and maybe you should wait for a vet to chime in...
As far as regrets helping people out, I am right with you. My MIL is actively encouraging wife to leave me and to cheat! She has a Pintrest board labeled "To TR you know who you are... My daughter's loser husband. A BIG LOSER." which she has about 150 terrible quotes for me. YET it was me who put a roof on her garage when she got a letter from codes to either fix it or tear it down... Not her sons but me. And let me tell you I am a lawyer and don't work with my hands for a reason. It took me the entire summer. Yet there she is now, encouraging her daughter to hook up with a piece of sh!t trailer trash who doesn't even have his own place. Literally he lives in his boss's (if you call it that they do odd jobs) home.
But it is good to hear you got out. Stay strong friend!
Me 41 W 33 M 2013 Suspect A 11/15 Confirm A 1/16 She moved out 2/14/16 Stepson 13 Stepson 16