I strongly warn against getting your fun from alcohol or drugs. These substances can affect your judgment and give you loose lips. Remember, it is best to be discreet in your dealings with others in your place of refuge. Be friendly, but don’t expect to make any real, long-term friends. This was a lesson that Working Man Jack and Sally had to learn; they both enjoy having a good time. The folks who run Sally’s shelter are very good at keeping tabs on her, so she has little opportunity to party.

If you took my advice about locating near a college town, then you should have no trouble finding entertainment at a reasonable price, especially if you like live music. These communities often have a very casual atmosphere and lots of transients. They are fun to hang out in. Libraries and parks are free or cost practically nothing to use. Exercising your brain as well as your body costs almost nothing, and the benefits are enormous.

If you are spiritually minded, don’t neglect this part of your life while in refuge. It may be necessary to exercise just a bit of discretion in attending services, though, especially if the ministers of your faith are under common authority or otherwise linked. You do not want your new pastor, priest, rabbi, or guru talking to the one back home and finding out who you are; wellmeaning people can inadvertently blow your cover or even put you in danger. Maybe switching to another denomination temporarily is best if your beliefs permit this.

In general, you want to live a quiet, peaceable life while in your “disappearance” phase. Avoid publicity, avoid trouble, and behave yourself, and all will be well. Remember to have a bland, believable cover story and stick to it. If things get tough at times, remind yourself that your exile is only temporary. (In fact, you may like your “new life” so much that you decide to make it permanent. More on that in the next chapter.)

Above all, I urge you to make it a time of reflection and selfexamination. Try to take stock of your life up to the present. Look for ways to avoid the troubles that caused you to take off in the first place. Otherwise, you may find yourself back in the same boat.

As a book that can teach you better living skills as well as help you financially and spiritually, I give my highest recommendation to the Paladin Press book Living Well on Practically Nothing by Edward H. Romney. It is full of tips on how to live well without spending a fortune, and it is a fascinating and inspiring read at the same time. You will find it on Paladin’s Web site at www.paladin-press.com.

Good luck, and God be with you.