Richard Lubin：Thirty Seconds to Power

How Florida resident Richard Lubin found quiet security with his Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus.

A New Chapter Under the Sun

In Bonita Springs, Florida, Richard Lubin and his wife have settled into a rhythm that defines retirement at its best. Tennis in the mornings, long walks on weekends, and lunches at the Tiki bar beside the pool fill their days. The air is warm, the community friendly, and the winters of Albany, New York, are a distant memory. “We had enough of the cold,” he says, smiling. “Here, every day feels like a gift.”

Yet even in this peaceful corner of Florida, Richard understands that comfort needs preparation. “You get hurricanes, you lose power, and then you have to clean out the refrigerator,” he says. “That’s why I bought the Jackery.”

The Storms That Stay With You

Richard still remembers a brutal storm back in 1987 in upstate New York. Heavy wet snow pulled trees down while the leaves were still on, crushing power lines and trapping families in the dark. “We had no generator then,” he recalls. “Nobody did. We just survived.”

Now living in Florida, he has learned to respect storm season in a new way. “It’s not just snow anymore, it’s hurricanes and high winds,” he says. “Power can go out for hours, and the heat builds up quickly.” For him, being unprepared was no longer acceptable.

Finding the Right Backup

In his gated community, natural gas is not available, which makes traditional standby generators expensive and complicated. “A whole-house system would mean burying a propane tank,” he says. “By the time you finish, it costs around twenty thousand dollars. That wasn’t what I wanted.”

Instead, he chose the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus, a clean, quiet backup system strong enough to power nearly everything in the house except the full air-conditioning system. “It gives me everything I need,” he says. “Refrigerator, lights, stove, microwave, all of it.”

From Setup to Confidence

Richard had an electrician wire a special connection in his garage that links directly to his breaker panel. “When I hear a storm is coming, I plug in the Jackery, charge it to one hundred percent, and I’m ready,” he says. “We tested everything, and it all worked perfectly.”

The generator sits neatly in the garage, wheels making it easy to move when needed. “It’s simple,” he says. “I just flip the main breaker, plug in the Jackery, and power flows through the house. It takes thirty seconds.”

Quiet Power, Real Peace

Compared with gas generators, what stands out most to Richard is the silence. “No smell, no noise, nothing,” he says. “It’s clean power.” The Jackery 5000 Plus holds its charge for weeks without use, losing only one percent after several weeks. When he tops it up, it takes less than an hour to reach full charge again.

“It’s peace of mind,” he says. “If the lights go out, I know we’ll be fine.”

A System That Fits His Life

The design of the Jackery suits the way Richard likes things: tidy, efficient, and reliable. “It’s like having a home generator without all the clutter,” he says. “Everything connects to the circuit box, so I don’t have cords running all over.” He keeps a gas grill on the lanai for cooking if needed, but the Jackery powers almost everything else indoors.

“It’s all contained,” he says proudly. “The refrigerator, lights, even fans, all stay on.”

Life in Bonita Springs

Most days, life is light and easy. Richard and his wife play tennis several times a week and enjoy dinners with friends at the clubhouse. “It’s a great lifestyle,” he says. “Everyone here came to enjoy life after work.”

Their children visit when they can, and though family time has grown less frequent as grandchildren grow older, the couple’s community fills their social circle. “It’s relaxed, it’s safe, and we love it,” he says. “We’re lucky to have this.”

Prepared for Whatever Comes

Although the area’s power grid is reliable, Richard prefers not to take chances. His neighborhood shares a circuit with a nearby fire station, so power returns quickly, usually within a few hours. Still, he keeps the Jackery charged. “Even a short outage can cause a mess in the fridge,” he says. “This is insurance for me.”

The Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus also impressed him with its quality. “The packaging was great, it came on time, and the customer service was excellent,” he says. “They answered every question and made sure I had the right setup.”

Ready for the Future

If he ever expands his system, Richard says it might be with an extra battery pack rather than solar panels. “I don’t think I need panels,” he says. “You need sunlight for that, and during a storm, you don’t have it.” For now, the single 5000 Plus meets every expectation. “It’s perfect for what I bought it for,” he says. “It’s my insurance policy.”

What Power Means Now

For Richard Lubin, the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus represents more than electricity. It is a symbol of self-reliance and calm. “It gives me peace of mind,” he says. “I know the lights will stay on, the food will stay cold, and my wife will still have her morning coffee.”

He pauses, then smiles. “I haven’t had to use it yet,” he says, “but when the next storm comes, I’ll be ready.”