Hehehe, well it is a bit of a caricature of course. Quite a lot of people pat somebody to clean their house. It is not uncommon. Paying people to do yard work is probably a lot more rare. Then again you don’t really need to maintain your yard like in the US.

Like here in Norway where I live, your yard maybe half rock sticking up with moss on it. Nature is naturally more wild and thus the expectations of some pristine perfect lawn and hedges is not quite the same.

As for people around you. You will know people and be in good terms with them. Just not as many. Scandinavians probably know fewer people but know those people more intimate, and keep them around.

Scandinavians are not really aloof, just socially awkward and concerned with respect each other’s privacy. My writing sort of assumed you act Scandinavian as well. Nothing prevents you from getting more social with neighbors if you want to. Scandinavians are not hostile to social people.

It is just that you need to be the active part more than you may be used to.