Appreciating Those Who Visit Me in Malta

The word "career development" comes with a sense of increased responsibility. Outgrowing the usual routine of finishing the assignment tasks sees the mid-career professional becoming more expansive in their roles: it could involve overseeing a group of subordinates, worrying about whether they are not being overworked or understimulated to maintain motivation. Or it could be getting on the graces of major clients, striking a balance between fulfilling their whims to stop them from hopping over to a rival, and ensuring their demands are reasonably doable. 

These extra responsibilities usually also mean more time at the office. Perhaps the job description still says nine-to-five, but the mind does not just turn off when one steps out of the office. And as many of my friends grow older, more experienced, and more senior at their work, they are at risk of becoming these mentally restless individuals. In between actually being busy at work, thinking about the next steps outside work hours, and perhaps a good dose of familial and community responsibility in between, I suspect they are not the freest of individuals for spontaneous vacations to the other side of the world.

That reality is precisely why I have come to really appreciate those who make that effort, to reach out on long-dormant social media accounts, take time out of busy schedules to figure out the travel schedule, find the mental capacity to make decisions on a journey away from accumulating responsibilities, and battle physical fatigue during the journey that would detract from productivity long after the journey ends. As someone who does not even really work full-time, doesn't have kids to take care of, and managers to answer to, I have nothing but gratitude for those who go through all that I cannot truly imagine.

For those who did and will visit, I have little to offer aside from time and a slice of the tourist hotspot that is Malta, hopefully beyond the usual hotspots. It's a tall order for someone whose income depends on having more and more meetings. But it is even more difficult considering that what Malta is usually known for – pure relaxation, with slow walks, lounging by the poolside, or just hanging out for hours with a few drinks – may not, at least in my mind, be the best use of time for people who came all the way here. As an active traveler, I struggle to provide the best bang for the buck.

But at the very least, for a few days, I might be able to provide you with an alternate reality, one that by no means better, but very different. Here, many people seem to worry little, even when their careers seem to stagnate. Some are lucky enough to inherit real estate that they can rent out to ever-increasing numbers of tourists, or sell to major developers. But others are destined to live with parents and grandparents for decades to come. Yet, few seem to be bothered by the stagnation, or at least they do not show it. With seaviews, free healthcare, and cheap bread, perhaps there is little to worry about.

Many complain about the growing influx of visitors overcrowding the islands. Yet few seem to make the attempt to relocate elsewhere. Oh, people know that opportunities for more financial stability may be found elsewhere, and indeed, many pursue them for a limited time. Still, they come back, indulging in the backstreets where they are born and bred, even if they are not so quaint and quiet anymore. No matter how much these returnees complain about how the islands have changed, they still come back to visit, if just to relive a past that never really comes back. 

So, for my friends who have visited and will come to visit, I really hope you can tell others about Malta. Not because of its beautiful sea, historical architecture, or nice weather. There are plenty of other places for that. Rather, it is that, sometimes, not being ambitious and independent, to be considered stagnant and even mediocre...is okay. Surely, there might not be as much money available for those fancy vacations (including to Malta), but in its place is a sense of peace, however precarious it may be, that makes the very idea of escapism through foreign holidays unnecessary.

The mentality won't be acquired in a day. Amidst the relaxed culture I live, I still struggle with the feeling that I could be somewhere else, doing something more productive, with the extended Maltese digital nomad life representing an opportunity cost that I will one day come to regret. Many who come to visit the country will return to the same mentality once they leave, back to the upward trajectory that enables more social status, more money, and more material wealth than those of us on the islands may never get to see. But perhaps, just for a few days, we can imagine the alternative?