Living in the land of zero junk mail

All this talk of Christmas back in the States (here and on multiple other expat blogs) got me thinking: “Where are all the clothing, house wares and gadget catalogs that usually show up in one’s mailbox?” Luiz and I have received exactly ZERO catalogs by mail over the past three years living here; not even a folded department store circular.

We have never received a solicitation for a charitable contribution (although this occasionally happens via the telephone) nor a political hit piece of any kind in the run up to the recent election.

Aside from monthly gas, light, telephone and health insurance bills, our mailbox pretty much sits empty.

Once in a great while we will receive a personal correspondence, but then that is usually from abroad. Folks here just don’t seem to use the postal service.

I’m sure there must be some reasons for this, for example, I’m told it is unlawful to send money/a check through the mail. So that would cut out the request for charitable donations and such. But catalogs and other advertising? Seems weird.

It is a relief not to have to stand over the trash bin every afternoon and sort out the few keepers from all the trashed postal items. Lot’s of trees are being spared.

But it’s still a little weird. (Good weird.)