Florida's Off-the-Grid Woman Continues to Defy

Robin Speronis isn’t one to back down.

After spending five weeks in jail, having her dogs seized and facing thousands of dollars in code enforcement fines, the Cape Coral woman continues to live off the grid, defying direct orders from the city.

She was even a no-show at a Thursday code compliance meeting set before a special magistrate, Channel 10 news reported. That was after missing hearings set in July, according to Fox 4.

Speronis, 55, has been making headlines since she moved into a duplex in January of last year and refused to have the water, sewer or electricity hooked up. She uses cisterns to capture rainwater, a camp toilet replaces a porcelain fixture and a solar charger provides just enough power to keep her laptop and a few lights going, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.

Code enforcement, water and sewer liens levied against Speronis add up to almost $13,000 so far. The city of Cape Coral has pulled the certificate of occupancy for her home, which means she can’t legally live in it.

Even so, Speronis continues to defy.

“Even if they board the house up, I’m not leaving,” Channel 10 quoted her as saying.

Speronis says she doesn’t have to live like she does, but she wants to. She describes the experience as “fun.”

I have a constitutional right to live the way I am and live the way I do,” Speronis told Fox 4. “I pose a threat to no one, including myself.”

Speronis has published four books since she began her quest of living off the grid. Her latest title, “Notes from the Jailhouse,” chronicles the five weeks she spent behind bars on animal cruelty charges. Those charges were eventually dropped and her animals were returned.

She also publishes her own blog, Off the Grid Living in Southwest Florida – One Woman’s Story.

Would you live off the grid? Tell us your thoughts on it by commenting below!

Photo Credit: Robin Speronis/Screenshot Fox 4