As I sit down on a bench in my favorite place in my hometown, a lot goes through my head. Still, the biggest issue is always the same (the same as it has been since I left almost 10 years ago) an indeed an issue that comes from the luck and privilege of having grown up in maybe not the richest place in the world, but in a safe, healthy and loving environment: How can I miss a place so much but still feel like I am missing something and like this place is no longer a home?
This city has changed so much, for the better and the worse. Here’s a very interesting NPR episode about how tourism has destroyed and saved our city by Miguel Macias, another Sevillian who used to live in NYC and who, like me, struggles to see our city become this weird amusement park where community struggles to survive.
(This was taken at 8 a.m. People were already queuing for a tourist attraction that also turns out to be a park. Ten years ago, I used to come here to study and prepare for my exams.)
For the past 10 months, while in my other home, I kept thinking, "I’ll go home, and this emptiness will be filled." And I think this every time. It becomes an emotional cycle that guides my life a bit: go home, feel out of place, miss my other home, be at my other home, feel out of place, go back to my original home, and so on…
But does this emptiness ever get filled?
The first time I left, it indeed did. It felt crucial for me to return and feel like a real home. But then things start to change there, and you also start getting attached to other things and splitting yourself into pieces. I used to think that leaving a piece in each place you live was a joke, but from this bench, I can tell you, I feel a bit broken inside and think to myself, was it worth it? Yes. Would I recommend it? I'm not sure.
And here’s where my sustainability thoughts come in.
Not going to lie, besides the emotional baggage of not only moving away, but also, in my case, falling in love abroad, I feel horrible guilt every time I board a plane. And even more, I know I have a 13-15h trip home. As a vegan, I hear the ‘one plane a year is like being vegan for a year’ constantly, and it truly makes me sink a little. Here’s a Reddit post that analyzes veganism and flying CO2 emissions. It will probably hurt a bit if you are a vegan.
The average round-trip transatlantic flight emits about 1.6 metric tons of CO₂ per passenger—nearly 20% of the average person’s annual carbon footprint in the U.S., and significantly more if you live a low-impact lifestyle. One flight can almost cancel out an entire year of eco-conscious decisions for someone who is vegan, doesn't drive, and shops secondhand.
Try this CO2 flight calculator.
Moving abroad often means multiple long flights per year, not to mention the hidden emissions of shipping belongings, adjusting energy usage in less efficient housing, or consuming new goods to replace what you left behind. There’s an emotional toll, too, not being fully rooted anywhere and often feeling like you betray your values every time you book a ticket.
Maybe. But it depends on why you're doing it.
Suppose you're escaping or looking for a fantasy life in a country where you’ll be more privileged than the locals, probably not. If you're seeking meaning, growth, and deeper connection and use that lens to give back, learn deeply, act intentionally, and maybe bring that learning back to your home, then perhaps it is.
But please: think twice before idealizing life abroad as the only path. Consider the locals, your impact, and your privilege. In the age of digital nomads, rising tourism, and global gentrification, the effect isn’t just environmental, it’s human.
I speak from personal experience. I’m from southern Spain and try to return every year. My friends and family are evicted due to Airbnb, tourist demand, and foreign buyers. The culture is shifting. It’s not just a “vacation spot” but someone’s home. You can see some of the horrible videos of the last Soccer cup finals that happened in Spain last week, and how some tourists not only harassed locals but also broke street lights and more.
If you want to dig deeper, here’s also a good article about Spain’s housing crisis.
When we talk about migration, we must also talk about climate migration. By 2050, it’s estimated that 1.2 billion people will be displaced due to climate change. We need to accept, support, and fight for that migration. Yet, many of us treat moving abroad like a lifestyle brand.
We don’t talk enough about the joy of not traveling. Explore your city.
What would it mean to discover hidden parks, attend an indie play, attend a local climate talk, or make friends who share your values, without crossing oceans?
So before you buy that ticket, ask:
What will this trip really bring me?
Is this a means of escape or connection?
Can I find magic closer to home?
Am I just traveling to party somewhere else?
Maybe instead of chasing the world, we can chase meaning right where we are.
Choose slow travel: Trains, buses, longer stays, fewer flights.
Visit friends! Stay with them and learn about the place from locals to truly experience it, rather than repeat what everyone else is doing.
Live small, live local: Shop local, reduce waste, be mindful of your footprint.
Give more than you take: Travel to learn, not consume. Remember, this is someone’s home, not your amusement park. When you leave, people still live there. Respect the cities.
Learn about the locals and what they are going through: How can you actually help?
Consider visiting less touristy places. There are many incredible destinations worldwide to see, where your presence might be more welcomed and meaningful!
Be honest about contradictions.
The best climate storytelling doesn’t come from perfection; it comes from nuance. Share your dilemmas, your guilt, your growth. People relate to imperfection. They’re moved by vulnerability. Let your story be honest if you want it to change minds or hearts. Let it wrestle with the complexity of living ethically in a messy world.
I love (and hate) chatting about how tourism and digital nomadism have affected my hometown, but living abroad and having friends who move abroad to Spain and other European countries, I encounter constant contradictions! I love my friends and love that everyone visits my lovely hometown, but it is heartbreaking to see how it has affected the lives of all my family and friends who are still there and don’t speak English.
(Save the date, show up, and support your local climate community.)
Check all incredible outdoor movies organized by Rooftop Film around NYC starting next week!! I love this organization and have been a member for the past 3 years.
Saturday, May 31 - Climate Imaginarium 2025 Opening Party on Governors Island
Sunday, June 1 - Green Oasis Community Garden Volunteer Days
June 13, Storytellers - Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett Receives The Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award (check all Tribeca Film festival events, happening this June, a lot of talks are free!)
Tuesday, June 24 - Rethink Food and Daniel Humm’s Service Dinner series with Charlie Mitchell
(Feel free to reply to this newsletter if you’re organizing something I should feature next month.)
Wherever you are, I hope this has given you a moment to breathe, reflect, and reimagine what sustainability means. I also hope to get you excited to explore your cities.
What is the best thing you have discovered about your city this past month?
With love and contradiction,
Lucía
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