Microcosm Publishing, 176 pages (vol. 1)/168 pages (vol. 2), paperback, $8.00 (ea.)

Bert and Holly Davis shared a legacy of independence born out of less-established life — or maybe a life established differently.  Dwelling Portably is a mini-revelation of an invisible society of people whose elders of the time briefly stepped into the literary light for 18 years (from 1990 to 2008), sharing their philosophy on basic life through survival tips and tricks in little info letter that is now reached a two-volume anthology.

Dwelling Portably 1 & 2 began as a self-published independent magazine originally titled The Message Post, hand-typed in a yurt and delivered by US mail from the  Philomath, Oregon postal address of nomad authors Bert and Holly Davis. By 1992 the micro-zine known as The Dwelling Portably Info Letter had multiple contributors all writing do-it-yourself notes on everything from how to choose a free camping spot to how to build a small structure using recycled textiles. The Davises faithfully wrote the info letter by typewriter about six times a year, compiling all the outside response from other traveling folks.

By 1994 The DP Info Letter was an intercontinental, underground, self-published phenomenon, steadily geared toward keeping environmentally conscious folks in a mostly underground subculture informed on how to live safely, more transaction-free, and — in case of political tyranny (or other motivation) — invisibly.

Both the writers and readers of this anthology see independence as a philosophy in a deeper  sense of meaning, and it does not get any more underground or independent than this dual volume combination travel/survival journal. By definition, many see living off-grid as merely surviving without a phone or less gas and electricity, but there is a large group of people that feel paying taxes, having an assigned number to your name, or a record with a government agency for many reasons is the opposite of independence and freedom. For some, living on less is a choice made to establish a quality of life over monetary wealth and responsibilities which, according to their journey, eventually compromise their freedoms in the true sense of the word.

Most of the contributors of this anthology lived a life that proves for material wealth is not the answer to happiness or safety. Can we really escape or live without what seems to be a complicated society? If we can, the instruction as to how to do it is in this anthology.