On The Move: Migration As A Tool For Unlocking New Opportunities

The world and its vast array of natural resources create new opportunities for all organisms to thrive. Since life's inception, organisms have spread out from their origins to seize new resources that are essential for maintaining life functions necessary for survival and reproduction. When a land becomes exhausted or overcrowded, fresh resources can be accessed as little as a few inches away or by traveling across the globe. Migration is a vital life force that humans share deeply with other organisms. The innate desire to seek a better life through settling in new environments, building new social circles, or pursuing better economic resource opportunities has led humans to migrate from their Mesopotamian roots to the frontiers of the New World. While we have explored and conquered all corners of the globe and their environments, opportunities continue to arise in unexpected areas once overlooked, thanks to technological advances and societal influence. In our migration installment of Turn To Nature, we will explore the similarities and differences between humans and other organisms regarding migration. We will discover two major types of migration that organisms undertake in search of better opportunities to survive and reproduce. Finally, we will apply the principles of migration to enhance our lives, whether it is as simple as moving across town or trekking across the world in search of better opportunities. Migration In Biology & Ecology Since life's beginnings, migration has been a deciding factor in natural selection for organisms, big and small. In any given space, organisms have limited resources to consume, creating competition when expansion is impossible. Most organisms with mobility will avoid competition and confrontation when possible and, as a result, migrate to a new space rich in resources and as devoid of competition as possible. As a result, migration is a major life force that governs how organisms operate, survive, and reproduce. There are two types of migration: cyclical migration, where organisms travel back and forth between two or more destinations in a predictable interval, and permanent migration, where organisms spend their lives searching for a better life with no intention of returning to where they started. Cyclical migration is a predictable travel pattern based on the season. During cyclical migration, organisms will migrate thousands of miles to reach a similar climate on the other side of the equator that has favorable conditions for their survival. Additionally, the food sources are relatively similar based on their climate, even though they are on the other side of the world. A prime example of seasonal migration involves birds flying thousands of miles. Because they are unrestrained by terrain, birds can fly from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa without much trouble. They generally prefer spring and summer.

When autumn arrives and the leaves fall, they will travel to the other side of the globe to enjoy another springtime. In general, birds will fly together in a V-shaped formation to take advantage of the air drag that each one produces, and as a result, require far less stamina to make the journey than if they traveled alone. Another example of seasonal migration involves aquatic creatures. Humpback whales feed in colder waters where their prey survive and breed in warmer waters that favor their offspring. Turtles travel across the seas for food, and female turtles return to their birthplace to lay their eggs. Finally, salmon in freshwater ecosystems migrate to the sea to grow, return to freshwater rivers to lay their eggs, and return to the great unknown again to live the rest of their lives. In contrast, nearly all terrain-based organisms engage in shorter, more permanent migration practices. Grazing animals such as wildebeests and sheep eat their current food sources and will migrate until they find new ones. Once they find them, they continuously devour their food and move onward without looking back. As grazers migrate, their predators, such as lions and wolves, are bound to follow their tracks. Food sources of predators adapt and learn to move out of their territory, and in response, predators must either expand or move their territory or risk starvation. The cycle keeps grazers and predators moving to new territories. Once an ecosystem's resources are consumed, it will follow one of two fates. On rare occasions, the ecosystem will become uninhabitable by any organisms since resources do not magically replenish on their own.

Living and nonliving forces commonly replenish, transform, or remove resources. When resource availability changes, new opportunities arise for different organisms to inhabit an environment, creating a chain reaction that changes the composition of organisms at any time. Our Own Migrations Of all the concepts discussed in Turn To Nature, migration is perhaps the easiest driving force we can relate to. Our reasons for migrating may vary when examined at intricate levels, but boil down to three distinct factions: economic, social, and environmental. We will now discuss the broader historical trends of our migrations and how they have led to modern migration patterns. Historical Migration Humans migrated from their Mesopotamian roots to parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, and the New Worlds of the Americas and Oceania. Like wildlife, humans had food sources to hunt down to keep their tribes fed and growing. Thanks to technological innovations experienced throughout history, humans have changed how they migrate, as we'll see in our journey. With the breakthrough of agriculture, the ability to manipulate our environment to grow our own food significantly lessened the need to travel far and wide. Farming, irrigation, and soil cultivation techniques made growing all types of food in a concentrated location easy. Unlike their hunter-gatherer phase, humans faced significantly less risk of being killed by other predators. As a result, cities sprang up where the population had access to ample food resources, giving way to other economic services. Agricultural surplus gave rise to different roles in a city, including educators, religious leaders, military, and government roles to maintain a well-ordered population. Additionally, cities gave rise to local economies and a means of production. Cities were settled in environments that contained their own unique set of natural resources. Because of their abundant resources, cities specialized in creating products to trade with other cities.

Local trading routes expanded throughout the centuries and became part of the Silk Roads, which connected Europe with Asia. These connections gave rise to traders and merchants who capitalized on their opportunities. Naturally, migration routes were woven into the Silk Roads as human curiosity led people to colonize new lands. The human desire to continue discovering new trade methods led to the Age of Exploration, connecting most known civilizations through maritime trade routes to the undiscovered lands of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. These explorers reported back to their rulers, which initiated many conquests to claim new territory and expand empires. Finally, the Industrial Revolution came into play, which made many large cities economic and production powerhouses that built wealth at a tremendous scale. Those who sought a better life migrated to these larger cities to get their slice of the financial pie.

The Industrial Revolution gave way to the modern capitalistic system, in which we exchange capital, time, and labor for money. Modern Migration Even though we’ve established ourselves on every continent and the majority of islands in the world, we continue to migrate to seek better opportunities for ourselves. Just as ecosystems change in their makeup and resource availability, cities evolve in their own economic composition. A strong example of economic transformation is the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Once hailed as the steel capital of America in the 19th & 20th centuries, Pittsburgh shifted its economic focus from manufacturing to finance, technology, and health care in the early 21st century. As a result, a younger workforce migrated to where the Monongahela meets the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers in search of a better life. Modern migration differs from its historical counterpart by resulting in one of the three driving forces mentioned earlier: economic, social, and environmental influences. When a city's economy shifts, its social and environmental conditions will also shift. While manufacturing eroded from Pittsburgh's economic base, the shift towards more modern industries resulted in a younger workforce and cleaner air. As seen in most cities, one of the most common reasons for migration is to be in a position of greater economic opportunity. Economic driving forces are frequently combined with social and environmental reasons for migrating. In most cases, cities tend to have more economic opportunities than smaller towns and often draw a younger professional crowd with many years ahead of them. Another driving force behind migration involves social and political reasons. In general, artists and progressively minded professionals tend to gravitate towards the most significant cities, where market conditions are ideal for them. In contrast, traditional and crafts-minded people prefer the open countryside, where traditions are strongly valued. Additionally, larger cities will have neighborhoods devoted to immigration cultures, such as Italian, Chinese, and Somali cultures, to name a few. Finally, those who are more fond of nature or wish to be in a town away from people will migrate for environmental reasons. Older generations may seek a quieter, more reflective life by migrating away from bustling urban areas. Additionally, their lifestyles may come with a lower price tag. The reverse is true as well, especially for a younger generation filled with the hopes and aspirations that come with big-city dreams. Their ability to acquire relevant skillsets quickly, which leads to high earnings, is a strong pull for younger crowds. In an ideal environment of towering skyscrapers, city lights, and motivated professionals, younger people feel more at home with the energy and momentum exhibited in urbanized areas. In all instances of migration, it boils down to the migrant's value systems and what they are hoping to achieve through making a big move. Migration Action Plan As we have seen from nature in human history, there are multiple ways to embark on our journeys. Many of us believe that dramatic change is required to improve our lifestyles, but that may not necessarily be feasible or what we truly need to achieve those goals. As such, it's essential to consider the context of our lifestyles to determine whether migration is necessary and, if so, what the magnitude of migration is required. For most people, moving as little as 5 miles across town is all they need to improve their situation. Others may need to travel greater distances to seize the opportunities they seek. Therefore, we will consider two types of migration plans for ourselves: one that requires us to travel only a short distance and be able to revisit our old location as needed, and another, more dramatic plan that involves no turning back.

Short Distance Migration For those of us planning to move a short distance, consider the following:

1 – Evaluate Our Current Situation

To best gauge our personal needs, we need to take inventory of our current lifestyle, surroundings, and opportunities. Some questions to ask ourselves are as follows:

1. How does my current environment influence my day-to-day decisions?

2. Are there people who hinder my progress toward my goals?

3. Do I reside near good economic opportunities, or are better ones nearby?

These are but a few questions to consider.

2 – Determine What Changes Are Required

Change is one of the hardest things for us to do, but without it, we cannot replant ourselves where we need to be. Luckily, the process of change doesn't have to be overwhelming.

We need to identify the specific areas of our lives to change and create specific goals for them. There will be tradeoffs as we transition, but the benefits should outweigh the tradeoffs.

3 – Ensure Migration Will Benefit Us

As mentioned before, there will be tradeoffs when we migrate. We might have to say goodbye to old environments and people, but we must consider the benefits of migrating. The further away we move, the less likely we are to have easy access to them.

Weighing the benefits is as simple as drafting a two-column list. On one side, list the pros of moving, and on the other side, list the cons. When adding to these columns, go for volume.

Finally, evaluate the weights of our pros and cons. Stay objective, but recognize that not everything we assign will be 100% objective.

4 – Identify The New Location

When we conclude that a short-term migration is necessary for improvement, we must decide where to move. Research and explore potential neighborhoods that align with your goals. Additionally, consider factors such as the cost of living, job opportunities, community amenities, and the local residents.

5 – Make The Move

Planning and organizing the logistics of our move will minimize downtime from our regular routine. Logistical items may include packing (or managing packing), transportation, and settling into a new location.

Long Distance Migration

Sometimes, a minor move across town just won't cut it. We need to sever ourselves from our old region to pursue opportunities, and that's okay!

If we're feeling called to make a more dramatic cross-country trek, this may be a better action plan for us to follow:

1 – Identify Potential Areas

We live in an age where we can research any area from our phones. Before committing to an area, we want to ensure it matches our expectations. Therefore, research is important to make a more informed decision.

When researching a new region, start with its major categories, such as its market, climate, and culture. We should also research any other items that may be important to us, such as healthcare, public transit, recreational opportunities, and more.

2 – Identify Resources

Every area has its own pool of resources that the community relies on. These include economic development, access to food and products, and organizations that benefit the community.

Additionally, some areas are more approachable to newcomers than others. It's important to identify resources that can assist in our migration to the area so that we can become familiar with it when we get there.

3 – Make Connections

Social media enables us to connect with anyone from anywhere. When connecting with people across the country, it's best to be polite but to the point about our reasons for connecting with them.

One of the best ways to connect with people is through LinkedIn. In this professional community, connecting with professionals we haven't met yet is more commonplace. From there, we can start a conversation to gain perspectives on the area of our choice.

There are other great apps for connecting with locals. Conduct some research to find the app that may be best for us now.

4 – Plan The Move

Once we've researched and connected with some locals, it's time to develop a relocation plan. There are many moving parts in any long-distance migration, so having an idea of what to expect is important to make the journey successful.

Some important aspects include logistics, finances, legal considerations, and downtime from point A to point B. The longer the journey, the higher the probability of encountering something unexpected. Depending on what exactly happens, this could be beneficial or a setback.

Additionally, taking less may be the best strategy for a massive migration if it matches our lifestyle and migration goals.

5 – Begin The Journey

It's easy to get hung up on the details of planning the next chapter of our lives. As we eagerly pen what will happen next, it feels like it already happened –– until it's time to actually go!

Fear and hesitancy are natural when making a big move. They exist as questions to ourselves to ensure we're doing what we truly want to do. After all, pain is a part of change.

Alas, it's time to make the change. If we don't, all of our planning will be just an academic exercise.

Start by packing one item and then another. Soon, everything will be packed. Then, start the next step and watch the ball roll as we gain momentum to finally embark on our journey.

As the old saying goes: The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Plan Your Next Migration Migration has been a cornerstone for organisms to seek better opportunities and continue to survive and reproduce. Whether organisms engage in cyclical or permanent migration, undergoing migration is a natural response to change, as environments never stay constant for long. As ecosystems continue to change and transform through living and nonliving forces, new organisms will capitalize on the environmental changes to fulfill new niches that ensure their survival. Our own parallels in human history have been documented with our own migration patterns. People seeking new opportunities for a better life or escaping the current environment's oppression take large risks to go to a new land for a fresh start. Nowadays, we experience our own migrations on both a daily basis and as a one-time deal. To turn the page on the next chapter of our lives, we may move dramatically from coast to coast or to a new continent that fills us with excitement and hope for a better future. Even if we are not planning to undertake a migration for ourselves right now, we must consider what tools we have at our disposal for making our own migrations in the future. What new opportunities await us to be seized as we bust out of the comfort zone of our own familiar territory? Only time will tell.