Danny, congrats on the trip and getting home safe. Did you wish Emma a Happy Birthday? Or, had her party came and gone, or was the marquee related to owner's or staff's children?
It is best to visit the desert in winter, not summer...or drive across it then...far more pleasant. San Diego is a great place in the winter...lots to do.
Georgia in the East is nice in winter unless a front is moving through. Where is the member density in the East and NE, lake states, midwest, south...
Imagine StevO might be evacuating as Austin area is forecasted to see 25-26 inches. There are other Texans whom might be leaving out of the path of the hurricane. Dealing with flooding and water damage is no fun and you grow so sick of dealing with everything being wet and trying to save things. Austin area tends to have a lot of rain anyway if I recall correctly. So all the streams and rivers will be so out of their banks. It will be like they probably never have seen before.