Beginning

Jerry Brewster called my a couple of weeks ago and asked if I wanted an interesting project. Of course I did, but wasn't expecting what he had in mind.

"How much do you know about preppers?" he asked.

Jerry isn't the typical editor-in-chief of anything unless it's related outdoor sports or maybe military or law enforcement. He's an Air Force veteran and flew A-10s in the U.S. Air Force but chose to leave the service and fly for a small charter company. He divides his time between flying and managing the magazine.

"What I see in the news," I replied. "Which isn't much - once in a while something happens and it seems someone involved is described as being a prepper. Whatever that is."

"It's gotten a lot of attention lately," he said. "But it's been a pretty big thing since back in the eighties. Back then it was mostly worries about World War Three, or maybe a huge natural disaster or disease epidemic. The past twenty years or so it's been fear of what the government is doing, and may be about to do.

"I happen to know something about it," he continued, "and know some people involved. I've made arrangement for three of the enclaves to have you visit and write about them. These are just three of many, and they don't have anything to hide. Everything they do is legal but they are preparing for things to get bad. No one wants it to happen but I'd like to be able to present a picture of it to some people. Not that I believe it will do any good but I want to try and these folks agree with me. Any questions?"

"I don't know enough to ask any," I replied. "But I'd like to take a look."