I feel that the next twelve months are unusually important because many so many concrete pressures are converging at once globally and socially, and they touch the exact areas that families like ours depend on most.
Government debt levels, persistent inflation, and this new war are already reshaping our purchasing power and increasing the likelihood of tighter monetary controls, while the banking systems are quietly moving toward more centralized digital frameworks that will change how and when we can access our own money…
At the same time, food systems are becoming more consolidated and fragile, with fewer local redundancies, greater reliance on long supply chains, and increasing exposure to policy shifts, fuel costs, and manipulated environmental strain.
Layered on top of this is the steady expansion of digital identification and verification systems that are beginning to integrate finance, travel, healthcare, and access to essential services into a single, connected framework that assumes ongoing participation. For those of us who will not comply, this will not remain theoretical for long. It will quietly but materially reshape what is accessible, how our daily life is navigated, and which doors remain open, making it necessary to think ahead and establish alternative ways of living, transacting, and providing for our families while our current options are still readily available.
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.”
— Proverbs 22:3
None of these shifts on their own would be catastrophic necessarily, but their timing together creates a very narrow window where families like ours still have relative freedom to reposition, reduce our dependence on the grid, and build our more real-world stability.
This is why this
next year really matters.
This is about recognizing that the conditions for flexibility and preparation are still available now in a way they won’t be in the near future, I believe.
In my own family, we are making some significant changes as we prepare for the years ahead.
“The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.” — Peter Drucker
This Summer
If you’re just getting started though, this is exactly what I would focus on this summer, in a very practical way:
First, I would clean up and secure our water. Most people are still drinking municipal tap water without thinking much about what is actually in it, including chlorine, fluoride, agricultural runoff, and trace pharmaceuticals. I would stop drinking it straight. The simplest upgrade is a gravity-fed filter, something stainless steel, like a Berkey, that does not rely on power. Alongside that, I would store water in the house. You don’t need anything complicated. Start with several food-grade containers, around 5–7 gallons each, and keep them in a cool, dark place. Rotate them every couple of months so they stay fresh. It’s also worth learning one simple backup method such as boiling or basic purification using a small amount of unscented household bleach in an emergency. The goal is to remove blind dependence on system infrastructure and make water something you are actively in the rhythm of stewarding.
Second, I would shift how we source and store food. Don’t bulk buy random items that are on sale, like I did years ago, but build a pantry around the real meals your family already eats. Choose a core set of meals and begin stocking the ingredients for those meals in depth so that what you store is actually usable from day to day. Focus on things like rice, oats, flour, beans, lentils, pasta, canned tomatoes, oils, salt, and simple spices. Add frozen foods that you already use, and if possible, invest in a small chest freezer to extend your storage. Slowly build toward having a few months of food on hand so that short-term disruptions do not immediately affect you.
Alongside this, I would treat food gardening as a necessary skill to develop. Even a modest garden changes your position because it reconnects your household to actual food production. Start small and grow what is reliable in your climate, things like potatoes, zucchini, beans, herbs, or tomatoes. The goal this summer is familiarity and consistency so that each season builds on the last… there is a huge learning curve to gardening, so you must begin now! This is also a good time to begin buying from local farms or farm stands regularly, even if it is just once a week. It builds relationship, supports local production, and gives you an alternative to large grocery chains. At the same time, learn one or two simple preservation methods such as freezing or dehydrating so that when food is abundant, you know how to benefit from it in the days ahead.
Third, I would make sure we have a way to cook without electricity. Most homes rely completely on electric appliances, which creates a gap if power is interrupted. A simple propane camp stove with extra canisters is enough to cover basic cooking needs. You can use it outside or indoors with proper ventilation. If you already have a barbecue, make sure it is in good working order and that you have fuel for it. The key is to practice using these now so they are familiar should you need it in an emergency.
“And the men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…” — 1 Chronicles 12:32
Fourth, I would address heat in a very practical way. In our northern climate, this matters a lot. If your home relies entirely on the grid for heat, I would begin putting a backup plan in place. A properly installed wood stove is the most reliable long-term option, along with a supply of dry wood. If that is not feasible right now, focus on making your home more efficient by sealing drafts, adding insulation where possible, and having proper cold-weather gear inside the home such as wool blankets and layered clothing. It is also wise to think in terms of heating one or two rooms well rather than the entire house.
Fifth, I would reduce ongoing financial pressure. Debt is a point of leverage, and thais matters more in a tightening environment, because when systems are stable, debt feels manageable because payments are predictable and access to credit is easy. But, when external conditions shift (through higher interest rates, job instability, tighter lending, or more centralized control over banking and payments) that same debt can quickly become a pressure point. Minimum payments can rise, credit lines can be reduced or frozen, and missed payments can trigger penalties or restrict access to other services. If more systems become digitally integrated, debt will also begin to influence what you can access or how easily you can move through everyday life, especially if compliance or verification becomes more closely tied to your financial standing.
This is why reducing your debt (including mortgage debt) now is about removing points of control. Every balance you eliminate is one less lever that can be pulled on your household. This may mean making larger, uncomfortable decisions such as selling assets, downsizing your home, or significantly cutting expenses for a season to accelerate repayment. Those moves can feel like a step back in the short term, but they increase your freedom and resilience in a way that is difficult to overstate right now. The aim is to move toward a position where your basic living is not dependent on ongoing approval, borrowing, or access to revolving credit, so that as the external systems become more restrictive, your household remains self-directed.
Sixth, I would evaluate your current housing situation humbly and honestly. A large home that is expensive to run and maintain will not be an advantage in the years ahead. It increases your dependence on steady income, stable utilities, and rising costs that are largely outside of your control. A smaller, simpler home that you can rent or afford comfortably, heat efficiently, and manage without stress is far more resilient. If you are already sensing a move is on your horizon, prioritize what actually matters: access to clean (well) water, usable outdoor space for growing food, and distance from dense urban centers where disruptions tend to hit first and hardest. It is wise to begin moving in that direction while you still have time and choice.
On the same theme, there is also a necessary shift in how we think about space. Living in closer quarters is a strengthening choice. When families share rooms, space, and live in proximity, it builds resilience at a relational level. Children learn to navigate friction, contribute to the household, and live well with each other, because life is forcing it. Larger homes that separate everyone into private corners feel luxurious and comfortable, but they weaken relational dynamics over time. A more compact home brings the family back together, which is exactly what we need in the days ahead. The goal is tighter, stronger, and more cohesive living that will hold under pressure.
I would also at least consider the option of being able to leave Canada if needed. This is about having flexibility, and making sure your passports are in order, etc. Different countries will respond differently to economic pressure, supply strain, and policy shifts over the next few years. Some will remain easier to live in, especially for families who value autonomy in areas like food, education, and daily life. If international movement is within your capacity, even just beginning to understand your visa options, travel documents, or where you might go gives you another layer of choice. You might not use it, but having the option may be very valuable for your family.
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”
— Benjamin Franklin
Seventh, I would begin building practical household skills in a very intentional way. This means moving away from convenience-based living and becoming capable in the basics that will actually sustain your home. Learn how to cook from whole, basic ingredients without relying on processed foods or meal delivery programs. Get comfortable baking simple bread, preparing meals from pantry staples, and feeding your family without needing a store run every day. At the same time, begin learning how to handle small repairs around the house, fixing what breaks instead of automatically outsourcing it. These are foundational competencies. Every skill you build reduces your dependence on external systems and increases your confidence that your home can function well, even if support systems become less reliable.
Eighth, I would reduce reliance on constant digital access and begin reclaiming more privacy within your home. Many systems now assume you are always connected, always trackable, and always available. I would start keeping printed copies of important information such as phone numbers, account details, passwords, and key documents so that you are not dependent on a device to access your own life. Keep some cash at home in small denominations for everyday use if digital systems are interrupted for a couple of weeks. Practice going a day or two without relying on your phone for everything so that it becomes normal for you to “Sabbath” outside of the machine.
Alongside this, I would take a serious look at the number of listening and surveillance devices inside and around the home. Voice assistants, smart speakers, app-connected appliances, and doorbell cameras all introduce a layer of constant monitoring into what should be your private space. Removing these is an essential step toward regaining sovereignty over your home environment.
Ninth, I would intentionally build into my most local, aligned relationships, and I would treat this as urgent. This isn’t the season for non-intentional, wide social circles or chillin’ with casual acquaintances every weekend. Identify a small number of friends/families who are aligned in how they live and what they are preparing for, and begin building real, practical daily-life connection with them.
This means shared meals, honest conversations, planning together, and a clear understanding of what each household can offer. Over time, this becomes a working network, which… also requires letting go of shallow social obligations. Depth is what matters now. The kind of trust and collaboration we will need in the days ahead will only be built through consistency and shared effort over time. Families who are connected in this way will be far more stable than those trying to operate alone.
Tenth, I would establish a steady household rhythm, and I would treat this as foundational, no longer shaped by preferences or the pressure to keep everyone’s wish list filled. Regular meals, shared responsibilities, regular time in outside, and a predictable weekly flow create a massive sense of stability that everything else can build on. In the years ahead, nervous system regulation will matter far more than most people realize, which means intentionally slowing down the frantic pace of life and being very selective about what you give your time and attention to.
Living externally, constantly out, consistently busy, stimulated and maxed-out, will drain you and your children quickly. It creates a baseline of stress that makes it much harder to think clearly, make decisions, work cooperatively as a family, or adapt when needed. In contrast, a home with a consistent rhythm, where the days have a peaceful flow, meals are shared, and the children are actually learning to get along because it’s part of daily life, creates real stability. When there is regular space to rest and reset and slow down, life becomes truly nourishing and sustainable.
Eleventh, I would simplify everything you can in your life… rigorously. Complexity is a hidden liability. The more moving parts your life has, the more points of failure you carry, financially, logistically, and mentally. Too many subscriptions, too many commitments, too many possessions, too many systems you rely on all create friction when things tighten and life around you gets more stressful.
Start by reducing what you own. If you have excess furniture, clothing, equipment, or stored items that you do not use, begin letting it go. A lighter home is easier to manage, easier to clean, and easier to move if needed. Create margin in your days so you can actually think, respond to the deepest needs of your family, and adjust when needed.
Simplifying also means standardizing. Fewer meals on rotation, fewer places to be, fewer decisions to make each day. This reduces your mental load and makes your household more efficient. When life is simple, it is easier to maintain, easier to adapt, and far less fragile under pressure. When you remove what is unnecessary, what remains becomes stronger, more functional, and more aligned. Edit your life mercilessly in the days ahead!
If you spend this summer steadily working through even part of this, your family will be in a much stronger and more flexible position as things begin to intensify in the fall. Our goal is simple: to live less dependent on systems you cannot control, and more rooted in what you can steward well within your own home. While your heart has probably been sensing it’s time to come home for some time, now is really the season.
Ready, set… go.