This summer half of the Kaffeeform team spent some vacation days in nature. Julian spent a few days in a remote cabin in the Norwegian woods, without electricity, running water and cell reception. And I shouldered my backpack and went alpine trekking, from mountain cabin to mountain cabin across the peaks of the alps in Tyrol. So why are we who love the city drawn towards nature and remoteness, again and again?
Out there, we find silence.
Far away from big cities and structures, from traffic noise and the millions of people, the world is still quiet. Fresh, clean air to breath in.
The view can drift as far as the horizon, undisturbed. Amidst the lush colors of lakes, meadows and forests we feel close to nature and move through flora and fauna almost invisible. Our daily routine is not determined by meetings or the clock but follows sunrise, sunset and weather conditions. The main task of the day is to reach the next cabin predawn, and then all there is to do is eat, read, and sleep.
No distraction. We reach a state of harmony, with nature and with ourselves. We return to the bare essentials.
At remote places like this water, electricity and also food are sensitive resources.
A lot of mountain cabins have to produce their own electricity and are supplied with a helicopter. So even food waste and trash have to be cart off in this effortful and expensive way.
But where resources are short, we handle them differently. We only order what we can actually eat and take our little garbage with us again. If there is no power and running water, let alone warm one it is easy to relinquish. We come to terms with alternatives, fetch water at the well to warm over fire, save electricity and shower warm only when available and badly needed.
We realize the luxury of these things.