Susan and I are pondering whether to continue the tradition of a family picture as a physical holiday card (ordered from Shutterfly) or sending emails instead.  On one hand, emailed pictures seem kind of cheap.  Regular email is what we all use for work every day and so has a very utilitarian connotation.  Sending one is free, which in and of itself signals cheap.  And it is somewhat difficult to make an HTML email with a picture look good (why is that?).  On the other hand, snail mailed physical cards seem like a waste of epic proportions.  Between the price per card, shipping and handling and then postage, we easily spend about $200 if not more.   Then there is the fact that these things are on a truck probably half a dozen times and almost certainly not recycled.  So our current thinking is that we will send email and make a donation of the saved amount.  Would love to know if anyone thinks that’s a really bad idea.

Susan and I are pondering whether to continue the tradition of a family picture as a physical holiday card (ordered from Shutterfly) or sending emails instead.  On one hand, emailed pictures seem kind of cheap.  Regular email is what we all use for work every day and so has a very utilitarian connotation.  Sending one is free, which in and of itself signals cheap.  And it is somewhat difficult to make an HTML email with a picture look good (why is that?).  On the other hand, snail mailed physical cards seem like a waste of epic proportions.  Between the price per card, shipping and handling and then postage, we easily spend about $200 if not more.   Then there is the fact that these things are on a truck probably half a dozen times and almost certainly not recycled.  So our current thinking is that we will send email and make a donation of the saved amount.  Would love to know if anyone thinks that’s a really bad idea.