My husband and I started thinking a long time ago about relocating our parents to be closer to us. After three years of living abroad, rare vacation visits, and the long distance, the idea moved from “that would be nice” to “we need a plan.” Two years ago, my husband’s father was hospitalised with a stroke and a heart attack at the same time. The next day, we flew urgently to Russia, where we spent several months with family. But most of the burden of surgeries, months in the hospital, and long recovery fell on the relatives who were constantly in Russia.

A year later, after recovering from the illness, his father began traveling again, and we met in July in Montenegro, where we had been living for the past 2.5 years before moving to London.

They arrived during a hot, but not the hottest, part of the summer. That same year, a heatwave with temperatures above 40°C caused a power plant to catch fire, cutting off electricity and cell service across half of the Balkans and even parts of Greece and Poland. Still, being outside in 32°C heat was already difficult for a 70-year-old who had undergone multiple surgeries and a long recovery. He never said anything about it and acted like everything was fine, but we understood: half-hour walks in mild weather were now the limit of our possibilities.

Unfortunately, our parents are not getting any younger, and we realise that no matter how energetic and curious they are now, the time will come when they’ll need regular care. We started looking into countries with good healthcare systems that would match their dream of a “small house by the sea,” offer a dignified old age, and align with their personal interests.

As someone deeply engaged in the topic of climate change, I started thinking: if 32°C is already hard, what will it be like in 5 or 10 years? Moreover, if we’re choosing an anchor point for our family, what will that place be like when we ourselves are old?
I looked up a map forecasting climate change—you can find it too by searching for “The 16 scariest maps from the E.U.'s massive new climate change report.” Looking at that map, you’ll understand why we are currently leaning toward north.

Climate change is not just about changes in weather; it's about changes in the environment we will be living in when we are old. It’s about being able to leave the house during the summer at midday without feeling physically unwell. It’s about the cost of basic food due to water crises and drought in certain regions. It’s about our quality of life in 30–40 years—when we will be 70 ourselves.