Postcards, while travelling, are one of the very few instances when I write by hand, these days.
I started about 20 years ago, I most usually only write the address and a smiley — the old school analogue medium is most of the message (that I take the time to pick a postcard, which then has to travel physically to reach the distance to its target).
where can you buy them? not at the post office, grocery store, nor the Hallmark near me. the cheap 19 cent postcard stamps also cannot be bought anymore.
I'm one of those improbable folks not based in US. While a tad more difficult to get by these days, I've eventually most always managed to find postcards. All post offices sell stamps (excluding the few that only manage parcels).
Also, any postcard sized piece of cardboard that bears a stamp qualifies as a travel worthy postcard – once I did just that, for the fun of it, and it worked. I've once received a stamp beer coaster.
PS. Another fun game is to see what's the most cryptical, vague postal address that does the job. See:
many of the gas stations, I think cracker barrel, and many other tourist knick knack stores around my (tourist heavy) city have them.. of course printing your own is not hard these days.
You can also use a normal stamp, but the postcard stamp saves you 12 cents per postcard. Up to you how much you care; I'll just use whichever design I like better.
