Just in case
I’m genuinely surprised that global tourism hasn’t shifted its patterns more dramatically yet. It’s intriguing to watch so many people continue to flock to southern European cities and beaches during summers when temperatures often soar past 34°C, and even the evenings no longer bring the cool relief they once did.
Sunny Plaza de España, Seville - December 2024
Extreme heat poses serious health risks - comparable to extreme winter conditions and hurricanes. I think it often gets underrated or ignored.
The rigidity of school schedules still seems to dictate travel plans for many, but I suspect this will have to evolve sooner rather than later.
Sunny Marbella in March - sans the crowds and a heatstroke.
The pandemic accelerated so many societal shifts, often for the better—how we work, the rise of digitization, prioritizing wellbeing, and even moving away from big cities. It makes me wonder how climate change will push this even further.
For example, one relocation initiative in the U.S. that caught my eye isTulsa Remote (tulsaremote.com), a program designed to attract professionals to start fresh and build a new life in Tulsa.
It’s not just about financial incentives—though the $10,000 grant certainly helps—but also about fostering a sense of community and contributing to the city’s growth. By welcoming over 3,000 remote workers so far, the program has created one of the largest networks of remote professionals in the country(!), offering resources to help newcomers find their place, connect with others.
As usual, it seems like it takes a major event—a pandemic, a war—to force real change.
Personally, I always thought I’m quite aware of what’s happening with the weather - (not only thanks to a heatstroke or two).
Enjoying a cloudy day at the beach in Portugal back in 2017
Even northern cities have become unbearable during summer heatwaves. But what really shook me this year was the flash flooding in Dubai. The storm itself wasn’t as extreme as some disasters we’ve seen globally, but the experience felt eerily like something out of a dystopian movie.
A modern, developed city brought to a standstill-roads submerged, electricity faltering, public transport completely out of service. No Uber. I never imagined I’d find myself wading through knee-high floodwaters in Dubai, unable to get back to my hotel for the night and stocking up on extra food just in case things got worse. The scale of it wasn’t catastrophic at all, thankfully, but it gave me a small glimpse of what might lie ahead in the future.
Storm and flash floods in Dubai, April 2024
These subtle behavioral shifts are creeping into my life now-I rarely leave home without my passport anymore. And I never travel internationally without the keys to my secondary homes.
You just never know where the next conflict or crisis might erupt tomorrow. 👀
I know there’s no way to “future-proof” life, and overthinking it doesn’t add much value. But every once in a while, I find myself diving deep into these thoughts and wondering where we’re headed next…
👽
