A method and system for routing data in a wireless network (400) that enables all nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408) to find routes to each other even if the nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408) are non-meshed which are incapable of operating as a router to route packets received from other nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408), and for associating and reassociating the non-meshed and meshed nodes with other meshed nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408). The non-meshed nodes (STA 13-STA 15) request association with one of the meshed nodes (AP5) which are capable of performing packet routing, to request that the meshed node (AP5) with which the non-meshed node (STA 13) is associating operate as a proxy node to route packets between the associated non-meshed node (STA 13) and other meshed or non-meshed nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408). Some of the meshed nodes (106) further operate as intelligent access points (106) to provide the non-meshed nodes (STA 13-STA 15) and other meshed nodes (402) with access to other networks, such as the Internet (402), as well as to effect the association and reassociation of the non-meshed and meshed nodes (106, 402, 404, 406, 408).