Sara Melander

Spatial Story

As a small-town kid growing up on the outskirts of Alingsås, I early envisioned an urban lifestyle for myself. It’s a common story, really. With Göteborg less than an hour away, parents commuting for work, relatives and family friends in the city, there was just no way I’d settle for a life without the buzz. People and culture right at my doorstep. Services open and available at all times.

After a detour via Australia, Germany and Skåne for adventure and academia, Stockholm attracted me for the very reason I once glanced at Göteborg. Young Sara would be pleased to find her 28-year-old self within walking distance to a rich selection of cafes, bars, restaurants, supermarkets, museums, cinemas, theatres… Still, when asked to visualise my happy place the other week, neither of the locations I’ve chosen for myself came to mind. Instead, I pictured the fields, barns and livestock of my childhood summers spent at my grandma’s cabin in the remote and rural village of Österåsen. The day-long drive there and back for two weeks spent away from my friends back home. No running water, nothing really, but the smell of cows and finding ways to fill the void of boredom. I saw the calves run toward my sister and me as we routinely went to feed them flowers before dinner, a backdrop of purple mountains and pink clouds.

At 28, I’ve arrived at a deep appreciation for the stillness of my childhood. I feel privileged to experience both and to have a place of retreat – mentally if not physically – when urban life gets intense. I’m thankful for feeling at home in multiple spaces, for the space I’m currently in and for all the spaces I have yet to (re)discover. For the ability to choose and change direction.