(Substack)—Actor Josh Duhamel has turned a remote stretch of Minnesota wilderness into a family sanctuary that’s as much about reconnecting with roots as it is about being ready for whatever comes next. The 52-year-old, known for roles in films like “Transformers” and his recent work on Netflix’s “Ransom Canyon,” shared insights into his self-built home during a conversation with People magazine, where he assessed his readiness for a major crisis at around 70 percent.
“Well, I have enough,” the “Ransom Canyon” star said. “Not 100%. Probably 70%.”
Duhamel acknowledged areas for improvement to ensure long-term self-sufficiency, particularly in sourcing food. “I could be a better hunter, I could be a better fisherman. I could stockpile a little more food supply,” he said.
The property, which spans 26 acres alongside a small lake and sits about two miles off the main road, represents over 15 years of hands-on effort. Duhamel started with a half-parcel of land an hour and a half from Fargo, North Dakota, and expanded it over time. He described the early days as true homesteading: no plumbing, relying on outhouses, and washing dishes in the lake. The cabin itself evokes classic Americana—a cute little red structure with a stone chimney right on the water, reminiscent of a Terry Redlin painting.
Key features underscore his practical approach to independence. The site includes three wells for reliable water access, food plots for growing provisions, and a custom filtration system. Even with modern touches like Starlink for connectivity, the focus remains on essentials. “I’ve spent 15 years cultivating our lakeside property—building on it, popping stumps, putting in wells, planting food plots,” Duhamel told Country Living.
This shift from Los Angeles life stems from a deeper pull toward simplicity and capability. “I make movies and TV shows, and I love it, I truly do love it, but I had this calling,” Duhamel explained. That calling was “to go and really do things with my hands again — fix things, make things and just do the basic things that we take for granted.”
He emphasized staying grounded amid modern distractions, especially technology’s rapid advance, which he finds unsettling. Duhamel noted that artificial intelligence particularly “scares” him, viewing the cabin as a respite from “this world of massive technology.”
Yet, he pushes back on the “doomsday prepper” label, framing it instead as honoring heritage and building resilience. “The truth is, yes, people want to call it a doomsday prepper thing, but it’s really not that,” he told People. “I’m really more of a guy who wants to stay true to my roots, get back to the basics, hone whatever basic skills I need.”
“I don’t think that we’re in any dire situation that we have to worry about prepping for doomsday, but it is good to have some of those skills,” Duhamel added. “I was getting so far away from it for so long, that I felt like I wanted to get back to some of that.”
Family lies at the heart of this endeavor. Duhamel shares the home with wife Audra Mari and their young son Shepherd, now around 19 months old, while his 11-year-old son Axl, from his previous marriage to Fergie, joins them regularly. The isolation fosters bonds: “The closest store is 40 miles away,” he said in April. “Once we get there, it’s really about everybody taking care of each other – making memories, spending time with family and friends.”
“You’re not consumed by all these other distractions,” Duhamel said. “When you’re out there, it’s really about having fun, making sure everybody’s warm, everybody’s got food and water.”
The setup allows his kids to experience unfiltered childhood—catching frogs, collecting sticks, and coming home covered in dirt—which Duhamel sees as vital in an era dominated by screens. “These days there’s so much anger in the world, and I think it’s because people are on their phones, getting caught up in whatever they’re being fed through their devices as opposed to being outside connecting with the world. Nature helps ground you to what’s important,” he shared.
Duhamel has also reflected on the property’s role in tougher scenarios. “I have this crazy fixation on what happens if s–t hits the fan in LA and I have to take my family out there and live off the land,” he said in 2024. “I believe that we could live off the land out there. I’m not very good at it yet, but I’m getting there.”
Recent upgrades, including planned renovations, show his ongoing commitment to refining the space while extending similar preparations to his Western properties. For Duhamel, it’s all about providing for his loved ones through hard work and foresight, proving that true security comes from within.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
It’s dumb to let people know. Makes you a target if it does hit the fan