The present invention provides a method of joining/re-joining a first micro-mesh for a mesh node. The method includes self-evaluating a mesh capability and a gateway capability of the mesh node itself; searching for a nearby dynamic gateway node and determining whether the nearby dynamic gateway node is found; calculating cellular RF criteria and determining whether the cellular RF criteria are met when the nearby dynamic gateway node is found; and joining or re-joining the first micro-mesh when the cellular RF criteria are not met.