I don’t have a shortwave, only a portable HAM Baofeng uvb5. That’s not as popular anymore either but it a necessity for emergency or during severe weather.
Yes, HAM radio has been declined in popularity over the past twenty years (partly due to the internet, as with SW) - but has rebounded quite a bit since 2008. The licensing classes are seeing much greater attendance these days.
Are you a licensed ham? If so, why not build yourself a simple jpole and get on the air with it? The adapter to plug in a PL-259 to the antenna jack is about $6 at AES or any other Amateur Radio store. You'll get alot more action if you get on a local Repeater with it too.
Heck if a jpole is too complicated for you to build, find yourself 5 coathangers, a few sticks of wood and some coax and you can build a 2m Yagi in about 20 minutes.