The Perfect Getaway Place
Tiny house packs a punch
This summer we spent two weeks in this tiny house on the west coast of Sweden. Jon and Pernilla, the owners, live next door. She’s an architect and designed this house. Their Airbnb listing says, “We built a house that we think you’ll like.”
They were right. We love it!
The house is only 42 square meters, or 450 square feet, but every inch was well accounted for. It was perfect for two people. Upstairs is living space, downstairs is the bedroom, bathroom and a small alcove for dressing, all separated by pocket doors. The living space has an L-shaped sofa, open kitchen (well stocked for coffee lovers), a window seat, and a table for four. As Jon said, it’s not about the house, it’s about the house in its environment. A wall of floor-to-ceiling windows on the upper floor looks out over the rocky outcropping and the ocean in the distance, sailboats silently passing by. The only sound was the wind.
At dusk we saw deer munching on acorns or bounding across the rocky face of the hills. Twice we saw a fox.
Why Sweden?
In my first post here on Substack, I wrote about the Scandi summer and I warned you to expect more Scandi content. We come here because we love the water, the lifestyle, and the mentality, which I believe are all connected.
When the weather’s fine, the sun is powerful. When it’s not, there’s perpetual rain. With the planet heating up, my strategy has been to go north in summer.
Nobody comes here for the food. Maybe the cardamom buns, but otherwise, there’s only so many shrimp sandwiches and salmon salads a person can take. It’s not Italy, you feel me? Also, pricey.
A cold bath a day keeps the doctor away
We went to the local swimming hole every day. With daytime temperatures around 18-20 degrees, it is not for the lily livered. My hands and feet turned ice cold on contact with the water. We swam less than five minutes, in and out. As soon as I was out, I didn’t feel the cold and could sit in the sun to dry off. The locals don’t even swim. They just get wet and get out. Many of them were in their 70s and 80s.
I did yoga on the terraced deck of the house.
And took outdoor showers.
The privacy and tranquility are restorative. Who needs child’s pose?
You do you
Google provided a number of prompts when I typed in “Why do Swedes…?”
Why do Swedes like licorice?
..celebrate Midsummer?
..hate Danes?
..tan so well?
…stare?
Continuing on last week’s theme, what I wanted to know was, Why do Swedes like to dunk in cold water?
The cold bath is revitalizing, said to reduce stress and inflammation, and boost one’s immune system. Usually it’s taken together with a sauna.
There is a lot of coastline here, thousands of islands and inlets, many opportunities for sport. Swedes are sailing, skiing, skinny-dipping, sauna-going outdoor freaks. I have never seen so many beautiful legs as I have in Sweden. Young and old, well proportioned legs, from hiking in all seasons, and scampering barefoot over rocks in summer to dive into the freezing waters of the Baltic Sea.
Have you been to Sweden? What do you enjoy about it? I’d love to hear from you.
Hi Angela, too bad that fare is limited to seafood. Nice 'for a time' as you point out.
Think we'll skip rural Sweden in our travel plans. Stockholm, tho, does intrigue with more varied cultural & historic fare. Rural never did appeal --- except for occasional Valley town excursions for a day or so. Will do Pembroke this month to visit cousin Lynn. COLD plunges not my cup of tea, neither. Continue to enjoy, Peter & you.