“Dare to try” is Catrine Johansson Lantto’s advice. Her path to becoming a Boden resident started with a saddle ad on Facebook Marketplace. On her way to the seller, she saw the opportunities for her hobbies, and soon she had a house, a job, and a rich leisure life in Boden’s proximity life.
Catrine Johansson Lantto is one of Boden Municipality’s new employees, working as a communicator in the labor market and education administration. She left a position at LKAB and a farm a few miles outside Gällivare. With the move to the Bodsvedjan area in Boden, she also left behind many hours of commuting each week and long late evenings spent caring for the farm and animals.
CATRINE’S PROXIMITY LIFE
✅ 5 minutes to the grocery store
✅ Cycles to work in fifteen minutes
✅ The bus stops right outside
— Here in Boden, I’ve simply gained an easier life. Five minutes to ICA, the bus to work practically stops outside my garage, and I can cycle straight to work in fifteen minutes. So now I truly have proximity life, with three minutes to the stable, seven minutes to work by car, and close to everything else I need, Catrine states.
MORE TIME FOR LIFE’S PASSION
The choice of Boden as a place to live actually began with her considering moving closer to her mother, who lives in Luleå, and at the same time getting better conditions for her great passion in life – horses and dogs.
– At that time, the idea was still to continue working at LKAB and just change my station to Luleå. But I went to Boden to buy a jumping saddle, and when I passed the entire equestrian area on the way there, I was sold.
It also turned out that the saddle seller could offer stable space conveniently close to Boden’s equestrian facility, where she now rides every week. And then a house in Bodsvedjan came up for sale that had what she was looking for.
– Here, horse life has become so much more enjoyable again. There are several kilometers of absolutely fantastic riding trails that are suitable and intended for horses. That’s certainly not the case everywhere.
EASY TO SETTLE IN
Life with a horse and three dogs has also been a door opener for new contacts and for quickly getting to know people who share the same interests. Catrine describes it as easy to get into new contexts and feel welcome here.
Welcome to Boden!
TEXT: ANNA BERGSTRÖM
PHOTO: MATS ENGFORS / FOTOGRAPHIC
