An open, running wallet is a node. Nodes can leave and rejoin the network at will. Upon reconnection, a node downloads and verifies new blocks from other nodes to complete its local copy of the blockchain. Simply open a wallet on a computer connected to the internet and you have a node.
Thank you for the explanation, I need simple explanations
I have had my wallet open for about 5 days now but as it cannot find a connection it isn't "running" as such so it isnt operating as a node... catch 22 again.
Back to patiently waiting for CTYA to work his magic