Open for snail mail pen pals?

Hello Everyone!

 My name is Kim and I've enjoyed several Reiman Publiations for years--Country, Country Woman and Farm & Dairy are my favorites.  I've missed the pen pal section in Country Woman in the last few years.  I found a similar post asking what happened to it and read the response. 

 I'm not sure if this is permissible on this site, if people were interested, could we request snail mail pen pals through this avenue?  I understand the benefit of online chat and find that enjoyable as well.  I, like many I think, long for the simple handwritten letter.  It seems that so many readers enjoy tremendously their responses from the "Readers are wondering..."section of the magazines.  However, if you don't have a specific request, you can't benefit from the contact that so many readers do. 

 If anyone has any feedback, thoughts, etc. I'd love to hear them!  Especially if this is not the proper place for pen pals, I understand!

 I'm a stay-at-home mom, 39, with two precious sons--one is 19 mos. and the other 4 years old.  We've moved several times in the last few years (due to my husband's career) and always have to start from scratch making new friends.  It would be nice to have some consistent pals via mail!

Thanks!

Kim Villalva, San Antonio, TX

Hi, Kim, I'm glad you still enjoy the fine art of letter writing. We're considering the possibility of introducing a pen pal feature through our Web site. Does anyone else have feelings one way or another? Would this be a way to connect that you'd be interested in?

 Hi Kim and Sharon, I too, love the handwritten letters.  I still write to my aunts, grandmother, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.  I know the little ones enjoy receiving mail.  Let me know what you decide to do and how you'll handle it.....

By the way, I am a SAHM- but my youngest is 24, now!  All the others have moved out.  I have lived in the same house over 26 years.  I am a Master Gardener for Colorado.  

Lori

Hi Sharon,

Thanks for the quick reply!  I'm glad you are looking into adding this as a feature!  It's nice having a focused place where such a feature might exist--several other websites offer pen pals but they are completely open to all genders, ages and interests so its more difficult to find someone you may want to write to.  That was the great thing about the penpal section of CW--you knew all of the women were readers and had some type of common ground as far as interests.

Do you have a timeline projected for how quickly you would/would not implement something?  Are you waiting for a certain amount of feedback? I know that it can take quite some time between posts on these types of websites--depending on how regularly users frequent them. 

 Would it be okay to post my email address in case someone is interested in beginning correspondence while the possibility of creating a feature here is still in the works?  If this was okay, I'd create a new post under this topic with email info.

 Thanks!

Kim :)

Hi I too love to recieve letters in the mail. There is nothing like finding a personal letter in the mail box, going home with all the anticipation, brewing a cup of tea and sitting down to enjoy reading it with leasure...

This would be great to be able to connect with other people with similar and different interests. I am a 41 year old working mom with 2 teenage kids with interests in lots of different things.

This is a great idea!!

Cindy

Hi, Kim,

 We appreciate your enthusiasm for the pen pal idea. We do want to give this possible feature plenty of thought before implementing it. As you note, it's important to us that our CW family members find pen pals that they'll enjoy corresponding with. So we have to determine the best way to present this feature while protecting the participants' privacy as best we can.

 Here's a suggestion. Rather than posting your E-mail address, we'd recommend that those interested in becoming pen pals with you push the "contact" button on the E-mail thread. That way, they can send you a personal/private E-mail with their contact information, and you can take it from there and respond as you wish.

 Let us know if you develop any pen friends this way.

Good Luck! 

Hi Kim!!!

My name is Jill Wagemans and I am a 41 year-old pigfarmer's wife living in an old Victorian-style red brick house in Bornholm, Ontario.  After I read your email about your request for "snail mail penpals, I knew that I had to write back to you!!!!  I used to write letters years ago and loved going to the mailbox to see a letter addressed to me!!!!!  If you like, I can give you my address and we can send letters back and forth, I would really like that!!!  It's RR#1 Bornholm, Ontario, Canada,  N0K 1A0.   We have a little very energetic three-year old daughter, Ksenia who we adopted from Russia two years ago!!!!  Anyway, looking forward to hearing from you!!!

Jill

Hello!  My name is Jill Wagemans of Bornholm, Ontario and I would LOVE  it if you could have a snail-mail penpal set up!!!  I agree that penpals is a great way to meet other women in the country and even around the world.  I had a few penpals back in grade school but that was a long time ago and I truly miss it and it would be wonderful to somehow bring it back.  Thanks!

 Jill Wagemans

Hi Jill! 

How nice to meet you via the internet! :)  I'd love to start corresponding! I've noted your address and will get a letter out on Monday since we're all shut down for July 4th now.  It's late now but I'll try to get on tomorrow or so and post more info re:  me on this message thread, including how to reach me (i.e. get my address) using the contact button.

 Thanks for your interest! :)  Your daughter sounds like she keeps you busy!

 I'll be in touch via letter and via another quick post tomorrow!

Kim

 Hello I''m also looking for penpal from all over .Im leaving my e-mail address if you want my mailing address.  helencormierstewart@yahoo.ca

Hi All,

I am also interested in snail mail pen pals and if anyone would like to do a private contact we can swap addresses.  A little about me, I am a Country Woman subscriber because I relish the thought of living in the country although I have always lived in the city or suburb of a major city. At 44, I am finding myself in the SAHM mode again. I enjoy baking, gardening, cross stitching, thrift shopping and reading. Hope to hear from some of you requesting pen pals.

Lorrie

Snail mail is my favorite form of correspondence to this day!  I have been pen palling since I was in grade school. 

Hello everyone, I would love to have a penpal, I am 45 and newly single mom of 3 girls. I was born in Australia but have lived in West Virginia for 13 years. Would love to hear from anyone. Please email me if you would like my address.

Donna

 Kim,

I just read ther posts and would be interested in being snail mail pen pals with other country women. I am 49 years old and married. Between me and my husband we have 3 children all grown, 6 grandchildren, and a great grand on the way. I live in the outskirts of town, but I have a urban garden and 6 chickens in the back yard. I work fulltime and travel for my job. I live in Indiana. I will leave myemail  addressfor any women who want to be pen pals. If you send me a note by email I will answer with my address. I am not sure how this post works so if I have sent my reply to the wrong place please overlook me.

Teresa

lacy_lady2000@yahoo.com

 Hi everyone,

I would  also be interested in good old snail mail for pen pals.

I am married with two teen age boys. I live in Pennsylvania. 

I grew up on a farm.  We have a house in the suburbs and a farm I inherited from an Aunt. We are slowly working our way to living there full time and starting up a small farm-business.

Id love to hear from you!  Give me some advice on this adventure!

Barbara Jeanne

lonesomepinefarm@roadrunner.com