This  article  deals  with  everyday  life  in  sparsely  populated  parts  of  northern  Sweden. It investigates the relationship between local practice and political discourses. The discussion is based on fieldwork carried out in two northern municipalities. Empirical themes include everyday life mobilities and means of transport. The theoretical concepts of everyday life, community, place, and policy shape the analysis of processes pertaining to space and movement. In  particular,  the  article  discusses  sustainable  development  as policy  and  argues  for  alternative  understandings  of  social  sustainability  in  relation  to rural settings.