This is an awesome thread! I've long since desired to get into shortwave radio after coming into ownership of a CB (Citizen Band) radio broadcaster/receiver unit a few years back.

CB is interesting in its own right:
- typically extremely local
- used by truck drivers, police, some really old school PA systems
- about 40-30 years ago, in my country this was the "group chat" equivalent for young adults who would drive about with their friends. lots of cars were outfitted with receivers and broadcasters (I still spot a few with the telltale antennae) and it seems like it was a fad in the US as well

Nowadays it's almost entirely dead so I never found anything interesting to listen to, much less anyone to communicate with. But there's something about a slightly more analog communication method that really appeals to my nostalgia. It must've been fun chatting to your friends over the radio, or dropping into what are basically anonymous chatrooms with local folks.

Anyway, as for shortwave radio proper, I'm not really sure where to start. I might get a receiver as well.