On an autumn morning, the sun lights up only the kitchen, where I wander sleepily to brew coffee while the dog still sleeps at the foot of the bed. The sun warms my skin as the aroma of coffee fills the room.

My small rented flat in the heart of Katajanokka, Helsinki, is a former coffee roastery. As the scent of coffee lingers, I ponder its history. How fitting it is for a coffee lover like me to live in an old coffee roastery.

I've always felt somewhat rootless. Even as a child, we constantly moved from place to place, primarily just for fun and variety.

Moving was always fun because I'd get a new room to decorate differently each time. I still love moving and have never lived at the same address for more than a few years.

This rootlessness has also taken me abroad over the years. I've called home everything from the Australian countryside and the bustling city life of Hong Kong to the cinnamon bun-scented streets of Stockholm and Chiang Mai, the digital nomad capital of Northern Thailand.

"Freedom has always been one of the most important values in my life – the freedom to go and do as I want rather than following society's expectations."

I've always felt most myself on the road, travelling somewhere, somewhere between destinations where no one is supposed to belong.

I've felt pressure to settle down, have children, and buy a home at some point. A few years ago, I thought I'd be ready in a few years. I kept giving myself just a few more years to enjoy life, and then I'd do everything society expects of us. I even bought a flat, just because that's what you're supposed to do.

However, on the very first evening in Meilahti, Helsinki, I realised I wasn't home. Even though I had signed a loan agreement with the bank for hundreds of thousands of euros, it didn't feel like home.

Just three months later, I left the owned apartment behind and found tenants for it. Two years later, I sold the apartment at a small loss.

I sat on the terrace of a local café in Katajanokka with the bank's sales papers on the table, and the overwhelming feeling I had from selling the apartment was one of freedom and relief.

Freedom has always been one of the most important values in my life – the freedom to go and do as I want rather than following society's expectations. Yet, my rootless soul has found a home in Katajanokka over the years.

Katajanokka is a small island right next to the centre of Helsinki. For some, it's a bit of a dead end, as there's no road leading anywhere (except to Stockholm and Tallinn). Still, for us residents, Katajanokka is a well-kept secret (shh...) – a cosy and peaceful area, yet just a short walk from Stockmann.

Life in Katajanokka feels very communal, especially as a dog owner. Nowadays, the area is full of cafés and restaurants, and some of the best rooftop terraces in the city are here. My friends often joke about how rarely I leave my "home island", but there's nothing better than being at home between trips abroad. Katajanokka is like a mix of Central Europe and the Finnish archipelago in one package.

I enjoy being at home, but it doesn't matter who owns the walls. As a child, we always lived in a rental house, so a rental home has always felt just as much like home to me as owning one.

What makes a home is my beloved possessions, from my comfy, plush sofa to souvenirs that help me quickly make my space feel like my own. All my things fit into just ten moving boxes and two suitcases because the less I own, the lighter life feels.

And having moved countless times in life, it's easier to keep the amount of stuff in check when you're constantly taking stock year after year. What remains is only what truly matters.

Home is also made by my beloved Shetland Sheepdog, Sydney, who, luckily, is an experienced mover. For both of us, home is wherever we have our own space. Of course, for Sydney, that space seems to be Katajanokka – he has her favourite hills where he can wonder at the world around him, his favourite cafés, and his best dog friends to greet during walks.

While part of me has settled in Katajanokka and the old coffee roastery I call home on Luotsikatu, I never know where the wind will take me next.

It is amusing how much we value homeownership and how owning a home is often seen as more admirable. I don’t deny that a home can be the best investment in life, but there are so many other ways to save and invest.

"I enjoy being at home, but it doesn't matter who owns the walls. As a child, we always lived in a rental house, so a rental home has always felt just as much like home to me as owning one."

When travelling the world, most of my friends live in a rental home, and there’s nothing unusual about that. Yet, in Finland, it sometimes feels like owning a home is everyone’s goal. I also recognise that I wouldn’t be able to buy a place like the one I can rent.

I’m unwilling to compromise, especially on location, and I want to enjoy life here and now. Although I’m somewhat rootless, home holds great meaning for me.

Home is a place to unwind, but as a visual person, I also need it to be beautiful and feel like mine. While it’s a nice idea to pick everything from the cooker hood to the floor tiles, I believe you can create a stylish and comfortable home with simpler decisions, like a cowhide rug in the living room and scented candles, without the stress of renovations.

As an entrepreneur, my income varies greatly, and the future is always uncertain. Renting allows me to easily move to a more affordable flat if needed, which is far less stressful.

With rising interest rates, I’ve often been relieved that I sold my flat in Meilahti when I did. Last summer, when my work situation was slower than usual, I considered moving from a two-bedroom to a one-bedroom in the same building. Although things are better now, knowing that option is available is comforting.

I don’t have a goal to save for a home of my own; instead, money is for living. I want to spend part of the year in Portugal, maybe get a camper van, and fly to Australia in the spring. I want to live a life that reflects who I am and for myself and inspire others to boldly make choices that defy societal expectations.