Many Norwegians prefer solitude in autumn holidays at personal cabins
Many Norwegians are heading to their cabins during the autumn holiday, often preferring their own private retreat rather than sharing with others, according to recent research by social anthropologist Anita Nordeide.
Nordeide, who recently completed a doctoral thesis focused on cabin owners, indicates that individuals often have access to a larger family cabin while also desiring their own space. The number of cabins in Norway has seen a significant increase, with statistics indicating that there were 450,492 holiday homes as of January 2023, up from 354,060 in 2001—a rise of more than 27 percent.
Many cabin owners cherish their retreats, regarding them almost as sacred. For example, Thorhild Larsen, who enjoys her small garden cabin in Oslo, relishes the solitude it offers. She finds sharing a cabin unimaginable, highlighting that her own apartment is also a private sanctuary.
Marius Askim, another cabin owner, prefers to rent or lend his cabin to friends but is not interested in co-owning it. He emphasizes that owning a cabin allows for personal autonomy, avoiding potential conflicts that could arise from shared ownership.
Anita Nordeide notes that many cabin owners possess personal items that they prefer to keep to themselves, fostering a desire for independence. Cabin experiences can inspire a yearning for ownership, with many enjoying peaceful rituals and solitary moments away from daily life.
Interestingly, as more retirees seek to build cabins, concerns about the environmental impact of cabin construction have arisen, prompting calls for national oversight in certain areas.