Silla Kakkola found a hundred-year-old detached house in the center of Riihimäki as her home

Riksuun rakastuneet is a story series in which people from Riihimäki share their thoughts about their hometown.

"Every day when I get on the Riihimäki train at the Helsinki railway station, I calm down. And when I finally open the front door, the spirit of the old house calms my mind. The environment is also quiet, there is no background noise from the ring roads like in my former home in Espoo", praises Silla Kakkola, 38.

He reflects that his life has calmed down in Riihimäki. Shopping also takes less time than in Espoo, because everything is nearby. You can walk to the swimming pool and the library.

"Working on a daily basis requires less scheduling. Time has been freed up for just being. Even though I go to work at the same time as before and come back as well, it feels like more time has been added to the days. There will be more things to do here in your free time, when you don't have to drive further."

The detached house in the center charmed

The impetus for the family's move to Riihimäki was a charming, hundred-year-old detached house in the downtown area of ​​Riihimäki.

"We had been dreaming of a detached house for a long time and we followed the offer, especially in Espoo and Uusimaa. The prices were just beyond the reach of an ordinary wage earner."

Coincidentally, Etuovi offered the current home for purchase. The family went to see the house and immediately fell in love with it because it was beautiful, completely renovated and centrally located.

"The prices of detached houses are significantly higher in Espoo than in Riihimäki. We doubled our living area, because our apartment building in Espoo had a good 90 square meters, now it's just under a couple of hundred. I appreciate the atmosphere of the old house and our big yard."

One important criterion for the move was that the family can manage with one car or even without a car. A home in the center of Riihimäki guarantees this.

A calm and efficient commute

The attitude towards remote work changed with the corona virus, and that made the decision to move to Riihimäki easier. If Kakkola went to the office in Helsinki five times a week, the family would not have moved so far. Now both parents can work remotely without one of them occupying the child's room.

"I go to the office in Helsinki 2-5 days a week. My journey to work on the InterCity train is pleasant, and I can work efficiently throughout the 45-minute journey."

In fact, Kakkola feels that her commute has become easier. While living in Espoo, he went to work on Helsingin Bulevardi by bus, metro and the rest of the way on foot. Now he walks to Riihimäki station, works on the train and walks a quarter to Boulevard.

"It's calming to sit in one instrument without changing. In terms of time, my total commute only takes a quarter of an hour longer than when living in Espoo. My day also includes nice useful exercise at both ends."

You can print an InterCity train ticket for the same price as a local train trip when you buy a series ticket for 50 trips at once.

Authentic Thai food

Kakkola really appreciates the public services of her new hometown, especially healthcare.

"I have easily been able to get an appointment with a dentist, for example. We are light years away from the situation in Espoo."

Young people are well taken into account in the library, and the family's 12-year-old daughter was surprised by the good selection of manga.

"A stable was also found nearby where he could continue his riding hobby. He also started acting at the Riihimäki Youth Theatre, where he can walk himself."

Kakkola's own strawberry patch has so far been found on Riuta's connecting road. He praises the good condition of the tracks and the active communication.

"I still haven't had time to ski Hatlamminsuo, which has been praised a lot. I recently started aerial yoga at Valoisa gym. Our swimming family is eagerly awaiting the opening of the land swimming pool."

Riksu's restaurant world has also been tested, and Naa's Thai Cuisine has become a family favorite.
"I dare to call it the best in Finland, because I have had experience eating it in Thailand as well. Another good one is Pizzastoppi, a standard destination for our pizza Fridays."

The garden grounds the mind

In the past, Silla Kakkola also killed green plants, but the detached house has awakened her inner green thumb, and she is excited to study gardening. There are berry bushes and many apple trees on the XNUMX-square-meter plot.

"I like tinkering in the yard. As a counterweight to the hectic knowledge work, it is incredibly concrete to sink your hands into the soil. Both commercial farming and flowers are interesting. We might build a greenhouse in the yard, because we are interested in increasing self-sufficiency. Dreams also have a wood-heated courtyard sauna."

Bridge Kakkola

•  Born in 1984 in Oulu.
• Moved to Riihimäki in August 2022.
• Secretary General of NYTKIS ry. NYTKIS brings together the field of Finnish women's organizations, i.e. the women's organizations of the parliamentary parties, the Union of Women's Affairs, the Central Union of Women's Organizations and the Society for Gender Studies.
• The family includes a spouse, a 12-year-old daughter and two cats.
• Enjoys skiing, aerial yoga, singing and tinkering in the yard.

Reija Ypyä