When Caitlin Johnson heard that some friends were going to rent out the underground bunker in their yard, she snapped up the chance to save $1,500 a month. Now, she pays just $500 a month for the 1,200-square-foot bunker, which has a master bedroom with en suite, a full kitchen, a living room, 18 bunk beds, and 1½ baths. Caitlin’s friends moved into the house in 2022 and discovered that there was an underground bunker that had been built by the previous owner. Caitlin pointed out that in California the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 a month. The 44-year-old is now paying a fraction of that, and her rent includes utilities. The trade-off is that Caitlin takes care of the bunker and the yard so her friends don’t have to. To get into the bunker, she has to open a hydraulic door and then walk down 15 steps before entering the blast-proof door. Caitlin says the bunker is “super quiet” but feels like a normal apartment. She is still able to get a phone signal and Internet service down there. Caitlin admitted that getting no natural light in the bunker doesn’t really bother her, as it helps her to sleep better, though she has installed artificial sunlight in parts of the bunker. While the bunker isn’t a “forever home,” Caitlin enjoys living there so much that she has asked her friends if she can extend her stay for another year and they have agreed.
