Life as a nature family

Bohuslän and Dalsland are both Swedish regions that aren't necessarily considered heavyweights among Swedish landscapes in terms of international fame. People know Småland (because of Astrid Lindgren), Lapland (because of reindeer and the Northern Lights), and maybe Dalarna (because of the wooden horses) – but after that, things usually get a bit thin.

Having the privilege of a small, excellent fishing spot just 200 meters from your own front door is incredibly special. But keeping the uniqueness of this situation constantly in mind can be difficult. As creatures of habit, we tend to get used to everything, and what is special often fades during a relentless process of normalization.

It was the most timeless period of my life—the first year of Corona, 2020. Parental leave, a newborn baby at home, and secluded life in a forest area outside Gothenburg—with friends visiting who were also on parental leave. A wonderful, surreal mix of emotions, blended with a dose of uncertainty and worry. And into that came the realization that I had overlooked something completely ordinary and obvious, yet absolutely magnificent in my life—because it seemed too complex, too dangerous, etc.: mushroom picking.