I've been writing letters to strangers for over a year and I think I finally know what makes me keep replying

I started writing letters to strangers a little over a year ago.

At first I replied to almost everyone. I think I was just excited that someone, somewhere, had taken the time to write something longer than a message.

Eventually I got pickier 😹

Some conversations lasted two or three letters. Some just quietly disappeared. One has lasted more than a year.

The funny thing is, I don't think it has much to do with having the same hobbies or similar lives.

I think I keep writing when someone makes me curious. When they notice things. When I'm halfway through their letter and I already know there's something I want to tell them back.

I mostly write about very ordinary things myself - a café, a piece of fruit, something I saw from the boat, a weird little moment that probably wouldn't matter to anyone else.

Somehow that has been enough to know people surprisingly well.

Has anyone else had a conversation with a stranger last much longer than you expected? What made you keep coming back to it?