So German!

You grew up in the GDR as a competitive athlete. What made you leave Germany and travel the world?

Holly: When the wall fell, I stayed in Germany for 11 more years. I worked at my grandfather’s construction company. So, I was doing the “building up our country” thing. After that, I noticed that was getting too boring for me. I thought there should be more adventure in my life. At that point, I was already travelling somewhere else in the world every year but the biggest adventure I was embarking on was floating down the Yukon River. This is the way I came to Dawson which is where I fell in love with the Yukon vibe.

You describe yourself as a globetrotter. Why did you decide to make a home in the almost deserted Yukon (an area much larger than Germany with the population of a small town)?

H: I have been to extremely beautiful places in the world and have lived in different societies but the Yukon has the perfect composition for me. There are colourful people but on the other hand enough space and also the composition of nature. I have been in jungles and in jungles everything tries to eat you and is crawling on your skin and in your shoes. We do not have that here in the Yukon. The dangers here, you can see them coming. The weather is beautiful and I enjoy winter. The composition of the forest, the water and the smell. This is just perfect for me.

You said the Yukon is very attractive for free spirits and artists. What is so different there than in other places?

H: I think Dawson is the magnet for these kinds of people. It has all the options. You enter a society up there where everybody is an individualist. Really strong and on their way to live their life the way they really want to. Kind of in a freer way than it is possible in the rest of the world. But it is harsh, it is really challenging to be in the bush and be responsible for your own mistakes and pay for them. You cannot call a lawyer up there. You have to rely on your skills and I really wanted to see if I fit in. Do I have the skills to carve a good life out of this beautiful setting? Plus being highly entertained by all the artists who come through Dawson and the Indigenous tribes. I am just in love with the place.

Can you give us an example of the harsh life in Dawson? What makes life there so hard?

H: Well, everything is different up north. For example, take transportation. Transport kids in 40 degrees below from A to B. You cannot just start your truck. So, you would take snow machines or dogs. We did it for 7 years with dogs. So, you basically have a mini Yukon quest every day. You have to prepare for all this and then you get hurt and you will learn from your mistakes. Like this you will develop a comfortable skill set to do those things. I really enjoy the learning curve of all this.

Can you tell us what everyday life at Dawson looks like?

H: Here I never really have “everyday” life. We never had a routine and were always living cyclically. Sometimes we live deeper in the bush than at other times. My main base used to be across the river, where there is no ferry in the winter. So we did a lot of boating and mushing. This alone already made it special. But now more and more people moved to that area so it’s not bush anymore. But I have other properties that I visit, where there is only boat access. So, life out there is completely different again.

Is living in nature much cheaper than in the city? I would guess you need less money than people who live in cities, do you?

H: I think we all need money. The biggest difference is a lot of people here do not work for others but for themselves. You have the benefit of making your own schedule but you are also responsible for everything. It’s not an easy task but you can do it in your rhythm.

What do your two kids think about that lifestyle? Do they also enjoy it?

H: My kids are teenagers now. They had a phase when they were done with it. They didn’t want to stay in Dawson City anymore and be in boats. They wanted their internet connection and to be close to their friends. But now they are coming around. My oldest son went hunting with me for the first time this year and really enjoyed it, to be in the bush and put everything he learned as a kid, but didn’t really notice he had learned all that, to use. They are both in love with the Yukon and playing with the thought of living here or not moving too far away.

Don’t you sometimes want to have the luxury of a “normal” life, for example, restaurants, theatre, opera, sporting events, cinema or television?

H: Ok, those are many questions in one. Where do I begin? First of all, we have the most luxurious life of all and I lived all the other lives. I lived with microwaves and heated bathroom floors. The most luxurious life is a simple wooden cabin. We live really well and really comfortably. The other thing is, if you live in Dawson, you don’t have to go to Vegas. Dawson is a boiling cultural melting pot. We’ve got great shows 365 days a year. So, when I really want those things, I can have them. I am highly entertained by all the artists who come through Dawson. I am also a great admirer of the Indigenous culture and history up here.

What kind of advice can you give to people my age (23 years) who are still uncertain, how they want to shape their lives and what goals they want to set for themselves?

H: Well, I wouldn’t call that advice. That would make me a friggin’ guru and I do not like that. I can only say that I have done a lot of stuff and along your way, you will meet people you should listen to. This is one thing I really enjoy if there is a mentor appearing in your life and if you click with them stick with them. Listen to what they have to say. The other thing, which is probably more important and connects with the first, is: Find your passion and everything will fall into place. Just nail what you would really like to do and that doesn’t feel like work at all because then you won´t get tired. You will then automatically run into the right people and find the right place on the earth to live. That can be Indonesia, Hawaii or the Yukon. It doesn´t really matter. But you will make the world a little better because you will be good at what you do.

You can find his bio online on his website https://www.driftwoodholly.com/

Listen to Lafeya by Driftwood Holly here: