A couple of years ago, I spent some time on in-depth reflection, which led me to the following conclusions and a much-needed change. I used to own a home on the edge of a forest, but after realising a little over a year ago that it didn’t in itself make me happy, my partner and I, and my dog, moved into a rental apartment in the heart of Helsinki.

I place great value on culture and diverse services, so it was clear that I needed a lot less space inside the walls and a much larger number of elements that make a home for me outside them. Such elements are old quarters full of character, the sea, restaurants, the sense of community and all the museums, libraries, cinemas, swimming pools, gyms and other recreational opportunities I love, not to mention an effortless commute. I really enjoy not having to waste time on getting from one place to another anymore.

In addition to services, nature is very important to me. The romantic parks in Eira, Uunisaari, Liuskaluoto and Kaivopuisto are some of my favourite places, and we spend a lot of family time together in them.

The whole city is my home.

This Lumo home has felt like home from the very beginning, so home really is something completely different from the number of square metres or a deed of sale. Our home offers us the opportunity to live exactly the kind of life we want. For us, home extends to places where we feel good. We can find anything we could ever want here.

My partner just said that he doesn’t even have travel fever. For that, too, we have our new home to thank. We have built a life here we don’t need to escape from. At least not right away. We both love culture and food, and fortunately, those experiences are available here in abundance, hopefully in the future as well.

In this world full of opinions and expectations, it’s sometimes good to forget about the traditional way of life and stop and ask yourself, what do you really want? What makes you happy?  

After living for a while in my current home, I’ve realised how much pure joy I have gained in my life from the opportunities and contrasts offered by the city and my Lumo home; the hustle and bustle of the city and the quiet seaside trails in early mornings.

What also appeals to me is the freedom of renting. I can easily switch from one Lumo home to another if, for example, I want to move as if from one room to another to look at different views. In this case, the whole city is my home, and sometimes you might want to go to the south wing, sometimes to the east, depending on the situation in life.

It’s also worth pointing out that both Lumo homes and their residents are taken care of with warmth, and everything is always in tip-top condition. If we need a maintenance worker to come in, we only need to call them or send a message via the convenient My Lumo service.

We have made a lot of memories during the year we have been living here; I spent my pregnancy in this very block, and my first child was born here. I feel at home in these streets, and sitting on the benches loaded with history in the numerous lush parks feels like sitting in a conservatory of my own.

And my home wouldn’t feel like home without old architecture and urban street art. I live for creativity, and when it comes to art, I don’t need to own it all in order to feel connected to it and enjoy it. The same goes for housing.

The vibrant city and its abundant nature are the home of my heart.