Does anyone Believe in old fashion PEN-PALS anymore?

[CrazyLady]

Planning lots for my new adventure and little cottage, I just purchased... I picture walking out to a full mailbox, and sitting beneath a tree to read welcomed letters from friends, before going back to wall scrubbing, or painting. Now this doesn't sound like much to some of you. But see, in the past it has taken from 125 miles to then 12 miles to go get the mail, when one wanted to excitedly sit and read letters, they still had to drive back home.. And even tho' computers are fun and a great way to meet new folks, it's just not the same as holding a letter, card or even a good book in your hands.. Some of you may remember pen-pals and handwritten letters. I have 2 that I've written to for over 30 years, they are family by choice, even tho' we've never met... Useto be you could put ads out for friends, then the world got all crazy, scary and sue happy, so magazines had to watch out for themselves too.. But I miss those "Pen-Pal" wanted ads, they were fun to read, and see who might have alot in common.. Then scribbling out a letter to introduce yourself, and waiting and wondering if you'd ever hear back.. I know postage is up, but internet fees also cost... So who still believes in Pen-Pals????????????

[HomesteadBaker]

I used to have a penpal in Korea when I was a teenager... we lost contact when he was sent to another school.

Cards and letters are always an unexpected blessing when one opens the mailbox.

Kitty

[Wendy]

I had a pen pal for years. She ended up moving & we lost touch. I miss her.

[Tricky Grama]

I write real letters to 4 H.S. friends and to 2 friends from jobs. I absolutely love to get letters & always have.
This may sound sad: when I was little & my mom & I would go on car trips I'd throw slips of paper out the window w/name & address on 'em BEGGING someone to write & be my penpal! Something about the mail I guess-not to mention hearing from old friends.

Patty

[Sonshine]

Maybe we should take a hint from our kids. Awhile back someone posted about some of our kids becoming penpals and my DH has a wonderful one. So, if any of you would like a penpal from middle GA, I'm game. Just pm me.

[MariaAZ]

I never had a penpal as a kid. A few years ago I signed up on another forum for a penpal and got matched up with a completely wonderful pal but it fizzled out in short order because we didn't really have anything in common.

If anyone is looking for a "big city" wannabe homesteader, I'd love to try this "penpal thing" again!

[mnn2501]

Originally Posted by CrazyLady

So who still believes in Pen-Pals:

I had a couple pen-pals growing up, but quite frankly I'm too busy to spend my time writing a letter, mailing it, etc when its so easy to e-mail, instant mesage, etc -- nope I think its a dying hobby.
But then I don't write out bills either, I pay them online. I could count the number of stamps I have used so far this year on the fingers of 1 hand.
Perhaps I'm just a techno geek.

[mezzogirl]

I LOVE penpals! I had one in Brazil for a long time, but she moved and we lost touch. I like letters because they are so personal. One's handwriting is a unique thing and it can be read over and over. I am a total paper nerd- and now I work with stationary stores all over the country designing invitations and monograms. I still write letters to my college roommates and my parents, because they like it so much. I would love to be someone's pen pal! MariaAZ- I'm game. From one "wannabe" to another...PM me with your address and I'll send you mine. By the way, last year, myy best friend in the whole world moved from here (GA) to Surprise, AZ. I miss her like crazy. I've never been there before and I'm still waiting to see if airfare prices ever drop so I can get out there to see your beautiful state!!

[highlands]

Sure, penpals are great, but I don't see the need to bother with paper and postal. That costs a lot, is slow, unreliable and the letters are clutter. I prefer email. The electrons are fully recyclable and store in virtually zero space. I live in a very small cottage so space is at a premium. I don't want to waste it on scraps of paper, letters.

[GrannyG]

I write stories for Inky Trail News...it is a pen pal magazine...lots of interesting items and friends to find....
http://www.friendship-by-mail.com

[Darren]

I found a balloon in the garden about three years ago with a letter attached. It was from a grade-schooler in Indiana. The missus has been trading occasional letters since then. Odd to say last year I bought a piece of equipment off eBay and ended up going through that town in Indiana to pick it up.

[TomK]

Originally Posted by Darren

I found a balloon in the garden about three years ago with a letter attached. It was from a grade-schooler in Indiana. The missus has been trading occasional letters since then. Odd to say last year I bought a piece of equipment off eBay and ended up going through that town in Indiana to pick it up.

Thats cool, I have done that on several occasions - I have let balloons go with my number on it, just to see who and where might find them - so far I have gotten calls from - Toronto, Canada - Genoa, NY, - Woodstock, Canada, Montreal, Canada...

As for pen-pals I do e-mail to several people I got to know thru a online football contest - but nothing in way of actual letters and such...

[Maria]

I don't write letters anymore, either. My mom and I IM each other. My kids and I email each other. We have a family messageboard to keep in touch with others of the family.

Snail mail is slow and unreliable. Why bother when there is something better?

[CrazyLady]

I see that we all have our likes and dis-likes, but to me it is some how sad, not to want to waste, the time with a real thing, no matter what that may be.. I know I am on here now, but believe it or not, not everyone in the world has their own computer, to fire up at any moment they choose. Even some who post on here, may do it at a library, or at friends or family members. I often have, and they or some have, time limits, or things to have to tune out. And I for one write long, long letters.. But am not one to just get to the point, and I enjoy sharing, yes, even if it's pure nonsense.. I seriously doubt if I'll ever give up letter writing, so I'll plant more trees, and save up for stamps if need be.. and in the mean time wish for those real letters in my mail box.. Perhaps I'm old fashioned, or have lived in the woods for too long, who knows..But if anyone wants to write real letters to a CrazyLady, feel free to pm me too. and yes, when I'm in the city, I'll also have email, but it's just not the same to me..
It looks as if I may have started something, in my moments of wonderment.. I too will live in a small cottage, but even in my first log cabin, I always had room for letters from friends.. Hey anyone have a pack of ballons?

[MariaAZ]

Originally Posted by Maria

Snail mail is slow and unreliable. Why bother when there is something better?

I think the definition of "better" is quite subjective though. I'm a total techno-geek; I work online, logging in several hours a day on the Web. I communicate almost exclusively via email with my clients.

With so much of my life being online, for me there is a certain low-tech charm to a handwritten letter. Not only that, but it's a great way to practice my handwriting. I don't get to do that much anymore.

Despite the majority of my correspondences being via email, to me there is a great sense of impersonality in the electronic media. It's instantaneous, for sure, but in my experience it is not as common to read an email that shows the amount of care that goes into the slower more painstaking handwritten communications. In my mind, a handwritten note is actually a piece of the person who wrote it, a sign that s/he thought enough of me to spend that extra time committing thoughts to paper.

Just my opinion though

[firegirl969]

I had a pen pal while I was in high school. I miss not having a pen pal.

Edited to add: I enjoyed recieving handwritten letters.

[Ross]

Well my hand writing is darned near a secret code so I stick to swapping emails. Who wants a typed letter!!?

[TomK]

The more I have thought about this thread the more I remember back about waiting each day by the door to see if any letters from my brother would come and how happy iwas when they did. So, if anyone is interested in hearing from a Michigan small homesteader - pm me and we'll swap addresses....

[EarlsNan]

I love writing letters. Used to have several penpals when I was a teenager and when my kids were little. Anyone want to penpal with me just send me a pm. I'm in Illinois.

[dixienc]

Originally Posted by CrazyLady

Planning lots for my new adventure and little cottage, I just purchased... I picture walking out to a full mailbox, and sitting beneath a tree to read welcomed letters from friends, before going back to wall scrubbing, or painting. Now this doesn't sound like much to some of you. But see, in the past it has taken from 125 miles to then 12 miles to go get the mail, when one wanted to excitedly sit and read letters, they still had to drive back home.. And even tho' computers are fun and a great way to meet new folks, it's just not the same as holding a letter, card or even a good book in your hands.. Some of you may remember pen-pals and handwritten letters. I have 2 that I've written to for over 30 years, they are family by choice, even tho' we've never met... Useto be you could put ads out for friends, then the world got all crazy, scary and sue happy, so magazines had to watch out for themselves too.. But I miss those "Pen-Pal" wanted ads, they were fun to read, and see who might have alot in common.. Then scribbling out a letter to introduce yourself, and waiting and wondering if you'd ever hear back.. I know postage is up, but internet fees also cost... So who still believes in Pen-Pals????????????

I had pen pals in France and WI as a teenager. I lived out in the boondocks of MI then though. I loved getting those letters! I would take a letter and go for a walk down to the creek and read it and re-read it again. I miss getting and writing actual letters, email just isn't the same.