I have loved postcards for a long time. The first postcard I ever got was from my cousin Miguel. I think it was around 1990.
After Queen Elizabeth passed away, I watched a YouTube video that mentioned she had been a pen pal with an American woman for seventy years. I never heard that term, but I learned about it with that video, and I thought it was pretty cool.
Thanks to that video, I learned that Miguel was my first pen pal ever!
It is such a nice feeling to get something in the mail. My husband and I say jokingly, “Christmas!” whenever we get a package in the mail, regardless of the month of the year. It is also funny because neither of us cares about celebrating Christmas, and we already know a package is coming because, ninety-five percent of the time, it is something we bought. Yet, it feels very nice to get something in the mail.
Anyhow, Miguel and I exchanged letters for a few years. He moved from Mexico City to different places within New Mexico. When he was about 14, he moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I had no idea that place existed until he sent me a postcard from that town. It is a winter sunset over the Snake River, with the Grand Tetons as the main point. He later sent me a few more postcards from that same town. Years later, in May 2000, I moved from Mexico City to Jackson, Wyoming. I met John shortly after moving to Jackson, while working together at Anthony’s Italian Restaurant. We eloped on April 29, 2002. We moved to Victor, Idaho (aka Teton Valley), in 2008. I still commute to work in Jackson 2 – 3 days a week.
Note: “Jackson, Wyoming” and “Jackson Hole, Wyoming” are almost the same place. Jackson is the biggest town in Teton County, Wyoming. “Jackson Hole” refers to the whole area, including the towns of Jackson, Moose, Kelly, Hoback, Wilson, and Teton Village.
I am getting lost here. Miguel sent me a few more postcards from Jackson, and I loved the pictures of the landscapes and local animals. I was 16 – 17 when I met a guy from Spain. For about three years, he mailed me a few postcards from various European cities. I loved receiving those postcards! I was hooked, and I wanted more.
So, whenever someone I knew was going out of town or the country, I would ask them to bring me a postcard or two. I usually tell people, “You don’t even have to go to the post office and mail them. I am thrilled if you bring them to me like that.” Not everyone travels with mailing stamps, and no one wants to go to the postal office while on vacation.
Years went by, and I got as many postcards as possible whenever possible. I went through my collection, and I am proud to say that as of October 2024, I had 232 postcards. I bought about 75% of them, which does not make them less pretty or valuable to me.
While organizing my collection, I was watching YouTube videos. One of the videos suggested various free and paid websites where people could find pen pals and other snail mail exchanges. I looked at a few of them and chose to create an account at Swap-Bot.com. It has been a couple of weeks since I made my account with them. I wish their site didn’t have so many advertisements, but hey, it is a free website! So, I don’t mind closing pop-up windows occasionally. I’ll let you know how that goes.
I want more postcards, and it has become quite complicated to find them. The last time I visited Mexico City (November 2024), I found only two postcards and searched in many places. Nowadays. I see stickers everywhere, but postcards rarely. Large gas stations on major highways, such as I-15, have been the best for me so far. However, John and I don’t drive on interstate highways often.
A big thank you to everyone who has contributed to my beloved collection! Three decades and going stronger than ever. I love this hobby! That’s it for now. If you ever feel like sending a postcard or two my way, you will brighten my day! 😁
Un abrazo,
Jess
Update (March 6, 2025)
I mentioned before that I joined a place to find pen pals. Well, Swap-Bot.com is much more than that. You can swap recipes, postcards, crafts, etc. An ample amount of swaps to choose from, within the USA or internationally, is up to you. This is my profile, in case you are curious.
Because my main interest is in postcards, a couple of people I swapped with recommended Postcrossing.com – I am so happy they did! It is a fantastic community! They have a cool and interesting blog.
I thought I had a “good-sized” postcard collection – well, this blew my mind: According to this article, the user who sent the most postcards (within the USA only) mailed 2,297 in 2024! As of today, she has sent 22,869 (she joined the website in July 2009). For international exchanges, a user in Ireland sent 1,871 postcards in 2024 (27,596 as of today, since April 2010).
Well, I certainly will be able to make my collection grow one postcard at a time! This is my profile, in case you want to check it out.
As of today, I’ve received six postcards and expect six more (I have sent 12 in total). You never know what country your next postcard will be from, so that adds to the excitement.
I’ll add pictures as time allows me
Un abrazo,
Jess.
The last postcards update (upload) was Saturday, April 5, 2025
Here to see some postcards I’ve received from my pen pals, Postrossing.com, and from the swaps I’ve signed up for via Swap-Bot.com. I will upload more as I receive them.
Here to see the postcards that my family and friends have given me over the years. Including a few I got from Iceland and Spain last fall 2024, and two I got from Kenya, Africa, on April 2.
Here to see the postcards I’ve acquired over the years, whether I purchased them, obtained them from a business, or they were mailed to my workplace and I kept them before they were discarded.
