I’m from The Netherlands (as a lot of Pokémon collectors I usually notice online, even though I know no one who collects irl among friends/family/co-workers/etc.)
I rarely meet other collectors in real life unless I was instrumental in them getting into collecting, but I was stunned when a new person at work said “so I heard you collect Pokémon” and told me they too were a vintage collector with a lot of the same sets as me.
It was equally surprising that we had very little to talk about. We both knew all the same things about all the same cards. Really instilled the value in me that what makes people’s collections interesting is variety. I love to meet collectors, but especially collectors who collect something different than me.
I live in northern New England. Not a lot of a local scene or anything to get involved in, at least not that I know about.
Currently living in Arizona. At my workplace there are at least 6 people who play Pokemon GO, but don’t collect cards. I’ve also tried to get them to buy a pack for fun with no bites These same people know that I like Pokemon but I haven’t told them anything about my collection. They also know that I don’t play Pokemon GO and every other day I get told that I should play… but then I’d have to go outside, and I don’t go outside.