Marcus Ottosson
Marcus Ottosson is one of our rural ambassadors in the immigration project and the initiative ”Home to Misterhult”. He represents the Misterhult area in Oskarshamn Municipality.
Marcus Ottosson, Klintemåla
Marcus Ottosson is originally from Oskarshamn, but moved away from the city in the 90s. Right now he divides his time between Linköping, where he works as a music teacher, and Klintemåla where he, together with his partner Fredrik Wenell, runs the guest harbor and café Valborgs in Klintemåla. Marcus says that he would have liked to be full-time in Klintemåla, but that will have to wait a couple of years until the children have flown the nest.
Fredrik, on the other hand, has taken the step and has been living permanently in Klintemåla for the past two years. Both Marcus and Fredrik left Oskarshamn, like so many other young people, to study and see the world. They have both lived the city life, but say that everything has its time, and that they felt that the older they got, the more they longed for a calmer lifestyle with nature as a backdrop. The choice fell on Klintemåla because both guys fell in love with women who lived and spent a lot of time in the area. The connection to the place is strong. It turns out that mother-in-law Eva-Marie grew up in Klintemåla's store, which was run by her parents since the late 40s. Today's ”Valborgs in Klintemåla” is named after mother-in-law Eva-Marie, whose full name is indeed Valborg Eva-Marie.
”Here you can slow down and unwind”
The joint venture began to take shape about 10 years ago. At that time, it was not relevant to take over any lease, but the ideas and vision were there, so when the opportunity arose four years ago, they took over both the guest harbor and the store. Since then, a lot has happened. The goal has been to create a cozy meeting place, where the reception is in focus and the offerings are chosen thoughtfully. It should feel like there is both soul and heart here. Nowadays, Valborgs in Klintemåla is more than just a guest harbor and store; various events are organized in the form of quiz nights, lectures, stand-up, and concerts, and you can also rent kayaks. Marcus and Fredrik have many ideas about how they can continue to develop the business and see a lot of potential in collaborating with other actors nearby.
Marcus and Fredrik agree on what the best thing is about living in Klintemåla. It is the peace, tranquility, and beautiful nature. Here you can slow down and unwind. It is simply a fantastic place to live and work, says Marcus. I am glad that I get the chance to share this with our visitors, he concludes.
Read more about Valborgs in Klintemåla here: valborgsiklintemala.com
Text and image: Jenny Svendsby
