It starts with seashells. Specifically, the kind you pick up as a kid and tuck into your pocket, only to rediscover later under a pile of sand-covered flip-flops. I can’t be certain when my fascination with small, oddly specific collections began, but I like to think it took root on those tide-pooling Saturdays in La Jolla, splashing about in neon-pink water shoes while my mom quizzed me about mollusks. There’s something about finding a tiny treasure—the thrill of spotting it, the joy of keeping it—that has always resonated with me. And I guess you could say this love for collecting has spilled into other corners of my life.

Which is how I find myself obsessively curating what some people might describe as “the most oddly specific hobby of all time.” (Their words, not mine.) Allow me to introduce you to my quirky obsession: coastal postcards.

The Postcard Problem (or Passion?)

If you’ve ever been to a beach town, you know the kind of postcards I’m talking about. The kitschy ones with glossy images of neon sunsets, cartoon dolphins leaping, or maybe a 1970s-esque aerial shot of a surf break. Once, I found one with a pelican wearing sunglasses and the words “San Diego Vibes Only.” That one’s framed above my desk.

This habit started innocently enough—picking up a couple of souvenir postcards when I was in Costa Rica for the summer. They felt like the perfect snapshot of a place without the clutter of bulky souvenirs. But soon, I started roaming antique stores and flea markets, obsessing over postcards like they were rare artifacts. Poring over them, I realized they were mini time capsules: glimpses into what people thought was beautiful, funny, or meaningful.

The quirkier the postcard, the better. One of my favorites is a vintage one that features a grinning crab holding a sign that says, “Get Shell-Shocked in Miami!” Another gem? A shark with the caption: “It’s a JAW-some Day in Daytona!” Somewhere along the way, collecting these silly, coastal clichés became a full-blown passion project.

What Do Postcards Have to Do With Dating?

Okay, stay with me here, because I promise this all connects. I often think about how a postcard—tiny and two-dimensional—reflects someone’s personality or mood. There’s something deeply human about the effort people once put into choosing the perfect card to send back home (complete with hastily scrawled notes about weather and food). It’s basically the analog version of texting “Wish you were here!”

Oddly enough, dating feels eerily similar to postcards. Whether it’s flirting with someone new or nurturing an established bond, you're constantly trying to share tiny glimpses of yourself, hoping the other person "gets it." Every text, every photo, every shared meme functions like a postcard—attempts to say, “Here’s a little piece of me, presented neatly and with a touch of personality.”

Just like my postcard collection, dating isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some people are all vibrant sunsets and romantic clichés, and others? Well, they’re the grinning crab with the cheesy pun. It’s about figuring out who appreciates your authentic quirks… and who’s going to write back.

Why Obsessions Make You More Dateable

Here’s the thing about obsessions: they’re magnetic. Having one instantly makes you interesting. It doesn’t matter what it is—maybe you’re into vintage basketball trading cards, or deeply committed to ranking every Nicolas Cage movie ever made. When you care deeply about something (even if it’s gloriously weird), it makes people sit up and notice. Passion is attractive, plain and simple.

This isn't just a theory. A few years ago, I was on a third date with a guy I’ll call Matt. We were at an oyster bar, making polite conversation about our favorite hikes in San Diego, when—almost as an afterthought—I mentioned my postcard collection. His eyebrows shot up. “Wait, like… the tacky ones? With sharks and bad puns?”

Exactly. Matt grew up in Laguna Beach and would slyly steal postcards from his grandmother’s souvenir shop as a kid. For months, we sent goofy snail mail back and forth using postcards from our respective collections—his favorite was a particularly ridiculous Kaua’i card featuring a turtle with a lei around its neck. The relationship? Eh, didn’t last. But the joy of finding someone who “got it”? That memory lives on, much like the postcard I kept from him.

Obsessions reveal who you are beneath the surface. They tell the world you’re not afraid to care too much about something. And in dating, that’s half the battle—being someone worth discovering.

How To Embrace Your Obsessions (and Share Them!)

Whether you’re collecting postcards or perfecting the art of espresso latte foam, here’s why you should lean in:

1. Own Your Weird

You know what’s more boring than small talk on a first date? Hiding your quirks because you think they’ll make you seem “too much.” My postcard story is always my go-to icebreaker because it sets the tone: “Hi, I’m Julianne, and I have a soft spot for ridiculous ocean puns.” It breaks the fourth wall of awkwardness and says, "This is me." You’d be surprised how much confidence your quirks can spark.

2. See Who’s Willing to Play Along

Not everyone needs to be as obsessed with your hobby as you are, but it’s a green flag when someone shows genuine interest. I’m not asking you to hit up every thrift shop within a 10-mile radius to hunt for turtles-wearing-sunglasses postcards (thank you, Mom), but I do think the best matches are those who’ll dive into your world, just a little.

3. Use It To Build Memories

Relationships thrive on shared rituals and inside jokes. For me and Matt, it was swapping postcards, seeing who could find the most absurd, tourist-trap-worthy addition to our collections. It’s such a small thing, but those shared moments formed a foundation—it turned casual into meaningful.

Wrapping It Up (With a Cheesy Bow)

Here’s the takeaway: Your quirks, obsessions, and passions aren’t just random personality fluff—they’re the postcards of who you are. Whether you’re the person with an overflowing vinyl collection or the one who stays up too late watching obscure documentaries about mushroom farming, those interests matter. They’re the things people will remember about you. They make you dateable. They make you magnetic. Don’t belittle them, and don’t assume they’re uninteresting.

Because let’s be real—if someone out there is willing to laugh at your pelican postcards or listen as you explain, for the third time, why “Surf Wax America” by Weezer is the ultimate driving song, well. That’s the thing you put on a postcard and send to the future versions of yourselves: “Look at what we built, one ridiculous obsession at a time.”