– It’s very simple, 80-year-old Anschen answers the question: Why? For half of her life, she has slept outside – voluntarily. It is thanks to a beautiful night in Halland. Since then, she promised herself never to sleep indoors again. Anschen Berggren lives in Råa, near Helsingborg. She lives in a one-bedroom house, like many others. But out in the garden there is a pergola with a bed in it. She has slept there every night for 40 years. Regardless of the weather. – I understand that people think “what’s the matter with her”, says Anschen when our reporter Nick Strömgren visits. Anschen’s own mother lived to be 100 years old and according to son Bill, she maintains her youth by sleeping outside. – Mother sleeps outside, that’s how it is. It is fantastic. And if you look at my mother and compare her to me. That’s how I think she maintains her youth. She is significantly younger than I am. And I’m still her son, he says. “A still and starry night” It all started when Anschen visited one of her siblings at Smarholmen in Halland. – It was such an incredibly beautiful evening. With clear sea, calm wind and clear stars. And then my sister asks me if we should each take a sleeping bag and lay down in the mountain crevices and sleep there for the night. All said and done, and it was absolutely wonderful. After that it was decided. – Then I said to my sister “you know what Bienne? Now I will never sleep inside again. “Wouldn’t be so stupid” For four decades she has kept that promise and went out in the evenings to sleep. But the clothes matter, says Anschen while showing off her pergola pyjamas. On top of that, she wears a pair of thermal pants and a thicker jacket for bed. She also has a plastic blanket and a large blanket. – I would never be so stupid as to be out here if I froze, she says. Neighbor Olle Strind thinks it’s impressive. He usually cheers in the mornings when he passes by and leaves the newspaper. “A few winters ago it was twenty degrees cold and she still sleeps there,” he says. Anschen thinks that she will continue to sleep outside. – I will do that as long as I can. Watch the preparations in the player above.
t4-general
Anschen, 80, has been sleeping outdoors for 40 years – voluntarily
