Postal stamps and its collectors have a hard time these days?

Is the hobby of stamp collecting diminishing? I used to collect several volumes of postal stamps, as it was my passion as a teenager and kid. I bought most of them being an enthusiast. I loved collecting stamps, and have put so much effort in obtaining some. But after I've graduated from school, I had to go to the neighbouring city to pursue my higher studies in college. It was during those times that I couldn't spend much time collecting stamps, or to be honest I've completely forgotten about them. But before I leave to college, I took extreme care to pack all the volumes of my stamp albums and stored it in a small garage in our garden house which is quite far from my house. I thought it'd be safer there. I didn't have enough time to pay a visit there, even when I come home for vacations because it's quite from my house as I mentioned. But after completing my degree, when I enquired my father about the stamps I collected and stored in the garage, he told me that he had disposed all of them. I was heart broken. Though I knew that I had other important things to do at that time, I simply couldn't let go the thought of how much effort I've put in to collect them, and how proud I was in collecting a lot of them. Now I'm 25. Still the thought of restarting the collecting habit hasn't faded away. But these days, postal usages are minimum. Communications have developed so much and technological advancements have made so difficult for people to choose the old way of sending posts than sending an email. Can anyone tell me how can I start collecting the stamps now? Any donators? My hometown is a very small town comprising of several villages and the only stamp dealer I've known in the town has died ages ago. Is it good to start collecting them or should I forego the thought and try to concentrate on other important tasks and establishing a future for myself?