Society defines what is normal based on the era and cultural context, establishing mobility patterns that can be temporary or permanent, and short- or long-range. In the Canary Islands, historically, it has been common for elites to seek education and experience outside the islands, later returning to occupy prominent positions.
Over the last half-century, internal mobility in Gran Canaria has included summer stays in the south, while for many Europeans, especially Swedes, spending seasons on the island during winter has become a common practice. This dynamic contrasts with earlier times when emigration to Venezuela or the Sahara was a reality for many Canarians.
What is normal is what you are taught to see as normal when you become a member of a society, so it changes depending on the era and the society you belong to.
However, current mobility patterns, such as the arrival of young Italians to work in hospitality or the investment of their compatriots in local businesses, as well as the interest of children of foreigners in settling on the islands thanks to teleworking, are redefining what is perceived as 'normal'. These new trends generate consequences that, for some, may seem 'pathological'.
Human mobility is explained by economic motivations, where individuals seek a benefit, or sociological ones, where movement is a norm within their social group. An example of this is the commercial community of Indian origin in the islands, for whom studying in cities like London or Mumbai is a common practice, unlike other groups who opt for Madrid or the peninsula.
The debate on the distinction between normal and pathological mobility is increasingly polarized. It is essential to establish new rules of coexistence that recognize mobility as an inherent characteristic of society, avoiding pathologizing those who adopt different displacement patterns.
