I traded city life for a cabin in Finnish Lapland

• Petri Kokkonen is a nature guide Entrepreneur based in Lapland.
• In 2018, Kokkonen traded city life for a secluded cabin in the Finnish wilderness.
• Kokkonen said he never felt truly happy living in the city and wanted to be closer to nature.

This told essay is based on a conversation with Petri Kokkonen, a nature guide based in Finnish Lapland. Edited for length and clarity.

I live in the remote Vazzali district on the shores of Lake Inari in Lapland, Finland.

All around me is mostly wilderness and I don’t have any neighbors for miles.

I grew up visiting this area during school holidays as a child. We visited her family’s primitive summer cabin for two to three weeks at a time, went boating on the lake, went fishing, and generally enjoyed the surrounding nature.

After finishing school, I worked in various insurance and real estate jobs for about 10 years in Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland.

When I lived in the city, I never felt completely happy or 100% present. I worked long hours, was constantly on my phone or computer, and felt stressed when I went to bed and when I woke up.

Being happy is most important to me, so I started thinking about my life and how to improve it.

I started spending more time in the woods and wilderness. Some weeks I would work Monday through Friday and spend the weekend there.

I started to feel like I didn’t want to go back to the city, so I decided to move permanently.

primitive life

I moved to the Vazzari area in 2018.

The cabin I live in doesn’t have a normal electrical system. I used to use a generator to charge my power bank once a week, but now I use solar panels. However, this may be difficult in winter when northern Finland is pitch black 24 hours a day.

Here in Lapland we have really clean water, so I get my water from the lake. I also use water for showers as I don’t have modern plumbing.

harsh conditions

It is most difficult when it is cold, as temperatures in northern Finland can reach -25 to -35 degrees Celsius and -13 to -31 degrees Fahrenheit.

The first thing I do on a winter morning is start a fire in the fireplace. Be careful about what you wear when you go out, and prioritize safety above all else.

I have a cell phone, but it’s mainly for safety. It’s like insurance for me, I can always call someone if I have a problem.

stress free life

Sometimes I miss my family and friends, but I always think that if I’m not happy, the people around me won’t be happy either.

When I lived in the city, I found it difficult to listen to and connect with other people. Not now. I’m grateful to be able to go back and talk to my friends and family about anything. I feel like I can get more out of it.

Now, I don’t have any stress when I go to bed or wake up in the morning, and I feel really happy.