When I retired, I sought to find a project which would
create meaning from my interests in cultural history, psycho-geography,
literature and the creative arts. I chose to study the lives of contemporary
women in Europe, which would also add an extra dimension to any of my retirement
travels.
On Ingmarso island I was privileged to meet with three
women who came there in the 1970s determined to live their dreams and forge an
island life.
Eva Westling and her husband started a fish farm which
was successful until European legislation made operations difficult! She now works
on the mainland as a nurse and regaled us with interesting stories about
travelling to work during the winter. When the temperatures plummet, people can
drive their cars across the ice! Meanwhile, secondary school pupils cross the
ice in a hovercraft if the ferry can’t break its way through. The photo shows
Eva volunteering in the small, delightful museum which has comprehensive displays
about island life.
Lena Eklund, Harbour Mistress
I had a wonderful long talk with Lena Eklund who runs the
harbour where we were moored. Lena and her husband had wanted to live in a
small society and raise a family away from the city. She applied for the post
of teacher at the island school in 1976 and in her first winter, had to lodge
in the tiny room above the Chapel as no other housing was available. Looking
after her 8 pupils was a great way to get to know the community while Lena’s
husband worked on the next stage of the dream – to own their own boat yard.
Lena modestly described how they built up the business slowly and carefully: building
the workshop, building, renting and selling boats and outboards, providing
winter storage, renting Kayaks, at the same time as building their own house. In 2006 there was the opportunity to open a Guest
Harbour, as the one in the north of the island had closed. Their initial
thoughts were that it would make a good retirement hobby. For the first few
years of building up this side of the business, Lena had 2 jobs - full time
teacher and harbour mistress in the summer season. In 2010 she retired from the
school after 34 years in her post, an amazing contribution to the life of the
island. Lena must have turned many of her creative and energetic teaching
skills to her harbour role as in 2011 the Eklunds won a prize for the best
company on Ingmarso. Their working year tends to start in March with April and
May becoming the busy period for the boat yard. Then it’s non-stop until late
autumn. In the winter Lena looks for some sun. Last year it was a cycling trip
in Australia.
Karin Lagerberg
Karin Lagerberg’s life story shares many characteristics
with those of Eva and Lena. It reflects a similar pattern of hard work and
resilience: the careful nurturing of a self-determined business based on a
desire to live in a green and quiet environment. Karin also came in the 1970s,
again attracted by the promise of a Government sponsored house that never
materialised. Since she was eight years old, Karin had wanted to earn her
living through planting and being practical. She had developed a significant
career on the mainland working as a film editor in a TV studio. Her architect
husband was also wanting an escape from the rat-race. All their weekends for
the next 4/5 years were spent on Ingmarso, building both their house and the
tomato growing business. Over 2,000 visitors swell the island’s population
during the summer months and Karin’s stall in the harbour is a popular stop.
There is obviously a seasonal nature to this kind of business and in 1992 Karin
started another phase of her portfolio career when the Stockholm Taxi Service
set up their call-centre on Ingmarso. Karin mainly covered the weekend shift
which allowed her to apply for another dream job when it appeared. She works as
the Librarian on the Monday evening openings of this vital, highly regarded and
well-resourced facility housed within the school buildings.
