Miia and Toni Lähdes: “Seinäjoki has everything”

Miia and Toni Lähdes moved from Helsinki to Seinäjoki in the autumn of 2023. The return to their roots in South Ostrobothnia was possible without changing jobs, because both are able to do their work remotely.
A woman leans against a man, resting her hands on the man's other shoulder. The photo is taken from above at an angle, probably from a staircase. A living room is visible in the background.
Miia and Toni are happy about their new home in Marttila.

“The year 2023 was very significant for our family. We had been considering a move to Seinäjoki for at least 15 years, but a suitable opportunity hadn’t arisen because of work. Around Easter the idea matured. At our cottage in Soini we decided that now we would move and timed our move so that our son could start ninth grade in Seinäjoki in the autumn. We felt a great sense of relief,” says Toni Lähdes.

“For me the biggest thing was that my employer Fujitsu enabled this change – we had been doing remote work a lot even before the coronavirus, and it is possible to carry out my work as the lead of a major strategic change from Seinäjoki as well. The change affects the entire Finnish organization as well as our international colleagues. I feel privileged and grateful that I was able to make such a decision. Toni is an importer of sports equipment together with two other partners. The company’s matters could also be arranged so that he can do his work from Seinäjoki,” says Miia Lähdes.

These things make us enjoy living in Seinäjoki

Loved family members and relatives

Toni: “Miia is from Kauhajoki and I am a native of Seinäjoki. I have always felt like a Seinäjoki resident. We have traveled in South Ostrobothnia often because our families are here. Whenever we have driven past the South Ostrobothnia sign in Jalasjärvi, a good feeling has flickered in our minds – we are coming home.”

Miia: “My childhood home is almost next door in Kauhajoki. It is important to me that I can now be with my mother and father more and that other relatives are closer than before. Our Soini cottage is also important to us. Now it’s only an hour’s drive from home.”

A wonderful home in a great location

Miia: “When we moved here, we first lived temporarily in a furnished three-room rental. When we got our own apartment, I had an incredible feeling – this is our home now! The previous owner had renovated the two-storey apartment beautifully, and we didn’t have to do anything but move in. I’ve even joked that now the only thing missing is a Finnhorse, which I want. I have been involved with and around horses since I was small, and there would certainly be a nearby place to board a horse.”

Toni: “We looked for a home in Seinäjoki for a long time and examined a huge number of listings. At first we looked at apartments in Ahonkylä, Kultavuori and Jouppi. We went to see many, but the home we ended up finding was in Marttila! Its location is excellent, everything is close and you can get everywhere on foot. There is always a parking space for the car, you don’t have to search for hours. I have always lived in the center, so this also feels like a good option. And if you want to go to the big city, you can get there in 2.5 hours by train.”

Plenty of cultural outings and great outdoor opportunities

Toni: “My father once worked in the set workshop of the Seinäjoki City Theatre. I often accompanied him. Grandma and grandpa were also closely involved with the theatre, because they lived in the old theatre house and worked at the cloakroom. Grandpa also served as the caretaker. That probably left some longing for the theatre. We go to the theatre and movies a lot. We often visit the art exhibitions at Kalevan Navetta, and recently we also went to Vesterinen’s gig at Rytmikorjaamo. Here all cultural outings are very close and it’s easy to do things. Nothing is missing here!”

Miia: “Toni used to ski a lot as a little kid at Jouppilanvuori and now it can be seen from our home window. We can go there to ski with the whole family. I ski, and my husband and son snowboard. There are many great outdoor trails around Jouppilanvuori that we use with our dog Emmi. The riverside area has been nicely developed, with pleasant walking routes and the restaurant ship Paatti. We sometimes also drop by Törnävänsaari, and the Paukaneva boardwalk is wonderful!”

A steady, peaceful rhythm of life

Miia: “The pace of life here is steady, so I don’t have the feeling of rushing in a rat race. Time is not wasted in traffic jams either. On the other hand, when events are organized here, there are always lots of people out and about. If you want to go out to eat on a Saturday, it’s not guaranteed that restaurants will have tables available without a reservation. We like, among others, Verstas in the Piiri area and the adjoining Teatteri Hysteria.

Toni: “I have always been proud of being from South Ostrobothnia; it is important to me. As a young man I would have given my left hand to get away from here. There was a strong desire to leave, as is common when young. Back then I was eager to get away, but now I was eager to come back. When we moved here, I knew what I was getting into, but my wife and son did not. When I waited for my son to come home after his first day of school, I remember wondering what kind of expression he would have. He was like the sun of Naantali! For me it was an aha moment, and I knew we had made the right decision.”

Miia and Toni

Text: Mervi Rantakari, Era Content Photos: Krista Luoma

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