When going through the photographs from the past summer, I realized that all the trips that I went on took me to islands in different parts of Sweden. I guess it’s not that far-fetched, with the water and open horizons, islands make sense in summer. But still, that I only went to islands, by chance. I find it a little extraordinary. I had an island summer.
The first island I went to was Björkskär, a smallish island in the Baltic outside of Valdemarsvik some 300 kilometers south of Stockholm. There, my friend Hanna’s boyfriend’s parents own two small fisherman’s huts from the 17th and 19th centuries, respectively. A beautiful setting for a weekend away, flowering meadows, soft cliffs warmed by the sun down by the water, and elaborate dinners served with sparkling wine. Three couples and me. (Honestly, more and more I’ve started to feel I should find a partner, like, NOW, just so that I wouldn’t be the constant odd person at social events. Most of my Swedish friends are in stable, healthy relationships now, how did that happen? … But then I remember how tedious I tend to feel dating is, and how I have so many other, way more interesting things to spend my time on, and I decide I don’t feel that stressed anymore. Fitting in is a truly bad reason to enter into couplehood.)
The brunch view from the front deck.
Spending time with good friends. Old friends. Best friends, really. I can’t imagine a better way to spend a summer weekend.
Katja Malmborg 