(edit title) Why I Love Sweden! Let me count the ways Options

[jackityjack]

I have noticed that this discussion forum is often used as a place for people to vent their frustrations and to send bad vibes out into the universe. Or simply to ask for help with figuring how things work in Sweden.

As a counterbalance I want to just pour out as many reasons as I can think of why I love living in Sweden (in particular in Stockholm) and no I am not being sarcastic / paid by the Swedish tourist board. Please feel free to add your own reasons as well.

1. The Fresh Air

It’s so clean, even in the capital city. I especially miss (and appreciate) this when I travel outside the country to big cities all over Europe, Asia and North America. Breathe it deep my friends. Best of all? It’s free!

2. The Space

It’s a big, big, big place and so easy to find solitude and enjoy nature without crowds of people everywhere. Even if you live in Stockholm (like I do) it’s easy to find places to go that are beautiful, clean and empty of people. Also free!

3. Seasons

It’s true that winter sometimes feels like it lasts for 13 months per year but, joking aside, one can really notice the seasons here. There is such a difference between the summer temperatures and the winter temperatures. (In comparison with Ireland, where I grew up, where I could wear the same clothes almost all year (usually raingear) because the average temperature range is +5 degrees to + 15 degrees.)

4. The Sunshine

Although it might be hard to remember in December and January Stockholm actually gets a lot of sunshine. Nearly 2000 hours per year. That’s more than London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Paris, Milan, Zagreb, Berlin… See for yourself http://www.svemet.org/stocompare.htm

5. Public Transport

For the most part it arrives regularly and at the scheduled time. It’s usually clean, not too crowded and although it’s not cheap I think it still represents good value.

6. Health Care and Other Benfits

I have had the misfortune to fall ill sometimes and have found the healthcare system to be efficient and friendly. And if you are poor you will still get the help you need. By contrast I would never live in the USA again for the simple reason that if you are unlucky you are f*cked. Same goes for being unemployed - you will not starve.

7. The Wild Edibles

It’s so great to be outside in spring, summer and autumn So much free stuff to pick and eat. Berries, greens, cherries, plums, mushrooms…

8. The Fact that You Can Find Out So Much Online

Yeah, it’s perhaps a stalker’s paradise here when it comes to personal information online but there is so much information available online from goods and services providers as well as official bodies. Usually it’s also available in other languages and if not then Google Translate does a good job of Swedish to English (unlike it does with German for whatever reason).

9. The Snow

It looks beautiful and brightens up the dark winter. But, yeah, 1-2 months would be plenty.

10. The Insulation

I have been constantly amazed by how warm it remains indoors when it’s -20 degrees or lower outside. And this is with only a minimal amount of heating (I can comfortably leave my hand on the radiator in my apartment without it burning). It seems there is some great insulation techniques.

11. Low Energy Costs

I pay about 600 to 700 SEK every three months for my electricity. Amazing! I am used to paying about 3 times that amount in other countries.

12. My Friends

I have made wonderful friends here from Sweden and other places all over the world. For them I am very grateful.

[unt9]

Agree on number 10.

[ShaunD]

I agree with most things here with the exception of No 11 ! 600 to 700kr for electric every three months ??? You must live in the smallest place possible !! When we first moved here the electric in our house was over 5,000kr per month during the winter and 2,000kr per month during the summer !!
Even now after a huge investment in our pellets heater a couple of years back, we dont have a single radiator on in the house (direct electric heating) and we average 2 - 2,500kr during the winter and around 1,000kr in the summer.

I would love 600kr electric cost every three months, it would feel like having a few thousand kr pay rise every month !!

[JuJuBeeLyn]

I REALLY agree with 10. Yesterday it was 16 outside and 25 inside. I opened up all the windows and then made my sambo check to see if his daughters had turned on the furnace. (I still have no idea how to work the thing as I am used to a thermostat with forced air and central AC.) Nope! I was very pleased. Also opened the beautiful big windows, got some lovely light, fresh cross-breeze and things cooled down inside.

Juju

[azimuth]

Although the insulation is very good indeed, the sound isolation really sucks here in Sweden...

[jackityjack]

I agree with most things here with the exception of No 11 ! 600 to 700kr for electric every three months ??? You must live in the smallest place possible !! When w ... (show full quote)

I agree with most things here with the exception of No 11 ! 600 to 700kr for electric every three months ??? You must live in the smallest place possible !! When we first moved here the electric in our house was over 5,000kr per month during the winter and 2,000kr per month during the summer !!
Even now after a huge investment in our pellets heater a couple of years back, we dont have a single radiator on in the house (direct electric heating) and we average 2 - 2,500kr during the winter and around 1,000kr in the summer.

I would love 600kr electric cost every three months, it would feel like having a few thousand kr pay rise every month !! ... (hide full quote)

I don't live in a particularly small place (about 68 square metres). But I do live alone which brings the costs down I guess.

[Awx]

Good list!

[cogito]

Yeah, it’s perhaps a stalker’s paradise here when it comes to personal information online

Thanks for a better term. I'd been saying busybodies' paradise.

Agree about the insulation.

[Cederberg]

A resounding YES to all the above. I love the food - it is primarily healthy and safe. I love the quiet nature of people and the way they really appreciate nature. I can right now see them all facing the sun with eyes closed while waiting for the bus or train. Swedes are quite shy but warm up nicely when you get to know them. I really enjoy the ability to talk about almost anything over dinner - quite unlike where I currently live in Florida. I love the history. I am American but all my grandparents immigrated from Sweden and I love that it has been relatively easy to trace my families back to the 1600's. Swedes have a very strong appreciation for art and have a much better art language than most of my American friends. I lived in Stockholm for a year and a half and arrived as a tourist and American, expecting to be in a "foreign" culture but found a very accessible place that became "home" in a really short time and still is "home" in many ways.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

I agree with most things here with the exception of No 11 ! 600 to 700kr for electric every three months ??? You must live in the smallest place possible !! When w ... (show full quote)

I agree with most things here with the exception of No 11 ! 600 to 700kr for electric every three months ??? You must live in the smallest place possible !! When we first moved here the electric in our house was over 5,000kr per month during the winter and 2,000kr per month during the summer !!
Even now after a huge investment in our pellets heater a couple of years back, we dont have a single radiator on in the house (direct electric heating) and we average 2 - 2,500kr during the winter and around 1,000kr in the summer.

I would love 600kr electric cost every three months, it would feel like having a few thousand kr pay rise every month !! ... (hide full quote)

Either your house is enormous or it is leaking heat like crazy!

Ah, you are using electric heaters. You could push down your energy costs a lot if you had radiators using the water from the pellet burner instead. Electricity is way more expensive than pellets.

[Svensksmith]

Sweden is a beautiful country and my family certainly enjoyed our time there. I have to say, of all the things that I loved about Sweden, I appreciated almansrätten the most. The ability to hike freely and the concept that the beauty of Sweden is for all to share is wonderful. Unfortunately some take advantage of this right and I hope they do not ruin it for everyone else.

[Willy]

I would love 600kr electric cost every three months, it would feel like having a few thousand kr pay rise every month !!

2500-3000 kWh/year (~ 1 SEK / kWh) sounds about right for an apartment without electric heating.

[ShaunD]

Either your house is enormous or it is leaking heat like crazy!Ah, you are using electric heaters. You could push down your energy costs a lot if you had radiators using t ... (show full quote)

Either your house is enormous or it is leaking heat like crazy!

Ah, you are using electric heaters. You could push down your energy costs a lot if you had radiators using the water from the pellet burner instead. Electricity is way more expensive than pellets. ... (hide full quote)

Our house is around 150 m2 (ish) so not too huge but a little above average I suppose.

No, we don't use the electric radiators at all now after installing the pellet heater. Our pellet heater is the blown air type which is in the living room with warm air moving fans in the walls to move the heat around. We could have got the pellet heater which heats water as well but that was nearly double the cost, then we would have had to install new radiators in the entire house, and, run the water pipes throughout the entire house as well. Not really a cost effective solution when house prices here in the sticks are 500,000kr and under !!!

Still, we save over 50% in electric costs now after the heater was installed, plus the house is warmer as well ! When it's -20c outside we sit inside with +23c easily.

[Kitale]

The coffee is great - and the concept of 'påtår ingår'.

[TMB]

Thank you, I needed this.