Why I bought a house in Nyland

I bought the house as a place to work on creative projects. During my first proper stay, I had five days of holiday and two weekends to work on a book. With most of the house empty, I could give one room over to writing. It worked.

Away from the pace and noise of the city, I found it easier to spend long, uninterrupted days on one thing.

The house did not feel rewarding at first. For seventeen months I paid for upkeep and renovations, tried to find guests, and learned how to manage a property from a distance. Once I began spending real time here, it stopped feeling like an expense and became a project I cared about. It still needs work, and I expect to do that work over the next several years.

I don't think remote work itself makes people lonely. Working alone without structure can. At its best, remote work lets people live in the countryside without giving up interesting, well-paid jobs. It can also help villages keep and attract residents.

That only works when the practical setup is right. Working from bed for days is a quick way to lose your routine. A room of your own, a door, a proper desk, and somewhere to walk after work make a difference. That is what I have tried to provide here.

Nyland is small. There is one café, so people call it “the café.” You get to know who runs local businesses and why they started them.

Many residents chose to move here. Among the people I have met are a Swiss event photographer, a Venezuelan ship engineer, and an entrepreneur from Stockholm who opened the café. On our first weekend, neighbours offered to help my brother and me with work on the house. They also seemed to know everyone else in the village.

The supermarket is well stocked, and the nearest IKEA is about an hour away by car. Daily life is easy enough; finding entertainment takes a little more effort.

That balance suits the house: enough nearby for ordinary life, and enough distance to concentrate.

Volunteers helped improve the house. The largest change so far is a new bathroom upstairs.

With each visit, it feels less like a property I manage and more like a home. I spend more time here, bring more people with me, and learn what still needs fixing.

I look forward to coming back now. I hope guests will too.