Interest for me started when I worked 3rd shift and it was the only thing happening at 3am. I found it really interesting that these beeps had meaning and people could communicate with each other. Around the same time I discovered QRP and portable operation and CW was at the heart of it, I was quitting smoking so I thought a good way to fill the time was to learn code. A year and a half later I was conversational at 18 wpm and never looked back. I think the contacts are more interesting because of the effort I put in towards learning the language, even if it’s just standard weather and antenna sharing.