A wonderfully simple life in a granny cottage in Kalanti

“One day, this will be mine!”

That is what Seija exclaimed aloud some twenty years ago when she was on a nature excursion with children from the Kalanti daycare center near what is now her home.

Years passed, and the same little cottage came up for sale. Seija bought it and has happily owned it for a few years now. Last spring, she moved in permanently.

When the youngest of her three children left for military service in the summer, it was finally time for Seija to pursue the dream she had carried with her since she was a little girl.

The tiny living kitchen is cozy and peaceful. In fact, it is so quiet that Seija bought a wall clock just to remind herself that time has not completely stopped in the last century.

To Seija, the simple lifestyle in her granny cottage feels wonderful, and she does not miss modern comforts.

“Here, I can create my own rhythm of life and decide how I spend my days,” she says.

The cottage has two rooms used for living: a small living kitchen and a bedroom with enough space for a double bed, but little else.

There is no running water and no indoor toilet, but electricity has been installed, and the hum of the refrigerator serves as a reminder of modern times. During the colder months, a wood-burning stove and a tiled masonry heater keep the cottage warm.

Seija works in healthcare and is currently updating her qualifications through further studies. The cottage is located close to the center of Kalanti, which suits her perfectly.

“My friends visit often and help with various projects. My sons have also been a tremendous help,” she says.

There is not a trace of a hermit in Seija. Family and friends are extremely important to her, and she meets them regularly. She also has many hobbies, all conveniently close by in Kalanti.

“I play volleyball, participate in the activities of the Women’s National Defence Organization, and I love being active outdoors.”

On a sign she erected along Rohijärventie Road, Seija has written not only her address but also the name Hökkelikylä (“Shack Village”). Alongside the cottage, there are several other old buildings on the property.

One day, the sign prompted a cyclist to stop and ask whether the place was open and if he could take a look around.

“Of course you can,” Seija replied.

“I’m incredibly proud of this place, even though everything here is so small and modest,” she says with a laugh, welcoming occasional visitors.

The hostess of Hökkelikylä has a truly contagious laugh.

“There are plenty of wrinkles around my eyes, but that’s hardly surprising when I’ve spent my whole life laughing.”

Home renovation and gardening were never among Seija’s hobbies in the past, but over the past few years she says she has learned to enjoy both.

She describes herself as persistent, a quality that has certainly been needed while tackling projects such as painting walls and windows, repairing the sauna masonry, and clearing an overgrown garden.

She has also had to learn how to use a variety of tools, from a scythe to a chainsaw. A good sense of humor has helped her through countless projects.

“You have to be able to laugh at yourself too,” she says, recalling unfinished projects and occasional failures.

Seija’s roots are in Kalanti, and she has never wanted to move far from Uusikaupunki.

“I lived for three years in a small wooden apartment building in the center of Uusikaupunki, and that was the only time I have ever lived as a city dweller,” says the woman who grew up on a farm.

Now approaching fifty, Seija feels that her dream came true at exactly the right stage of life.

She is fascinated by old buildings and traditions, but she does not consider herself old-fashioned. There are still plenty of projects planned for the property, and she remains open to change.

“This is a bit of an experiment to see whether I can manage here year-round.

If we get a particularly cold winter, I might end up renting an apartment somewhere,” she says.

So far, however, the thought has not crossed her mind. Seija picks up a pair of colorful woolen socks and mittens from a shelf in the cottage. They were a recent birthday gift from a friend.

The wood-fired sauna in the yard is heated almost every evening, and at those moments life feels luxurious.

“It gives the most wonderful steam,” she says with a contented sigh.

Life in the granny cottage has turned out exactly as she hoped it would.

“This has everything, even though so much is missing,” she says, summing up her recipe for a good life.