I also live 100 miles from a city of any size to go to for shopping, so my friends and I get together one day a month, (since I have to go there once a month to pick up medication) and make a day of it. We share the gas, have a nice lunch somewhere, and make everyone's stops, and then take the back roads home in case we find yard sales. I say go for it. Going shopping with friends, for a machine gives you that many more people to think of all the questions you should ask, just agree ahead of time to disagree on what machine is most wonderful, cause you will, lol!