Jack Barber

I don’t know when the switch flipped for me, but it’s been a long time since I’ve felt truly relaxed. I’m the kind of man who needs to know what’s coming—needs to be ready for it. Maybe it was after 9/11, maybe it was during the recession. I’m 53 now, and the world feels more unpredictable than ever.

I live with my wife, Lisa, and our three kids just outside Phoenix, USA. Nice neighborhood, solid community, but I’ve never been the type to rely on that. Over the last year, I’ve built a bunker beneath our property. It’s small, nothing fancy—just enough to keep us safe if things go sideways. Stocked with canned goods, water, and a generator. The essentials. Some might call it extreme, but with the state of things? You never know. Civil unrest, natural disasters, power grids failing—it all feels closer than it used to.

I make a living selling to people like me. Preppers. I run an online store, and business is good. Really good. Fear is a currency these days, and I know how to trade in it. I also run survival workshops—teach people how to filter water, make fire, stay off the grid. There’s always a crowd. You’d be surprised how many folks around here have the same mindset.

Still, sometimes I catch myself wondering if I’ve gone too deep into this. When was the last time I had a conversation with a friend that didn’t involve what-ifs? We all want to feel secure, to know we’ve done everything we can to protect our families, but no matter how much we prepare, that gnawing uncertainty remains.

I guess that’s the irony of it all. You can stockpile supplies, build walls, and fortify your life as much as you want, but the future? It’s a beast you can’t tame. Maybe that’s what keeps me up at night. Or maybe it’s what keeps me going.