I'm currantly living in Southeran California - we have a 40-44 store shop hop in June - I love to go to all the stores, and yes, I have spent a lot of money "stimulating the ecomony". I have also done the same run with a specific scrappy pattern in mind so that I am buying basically fat quarters. Either way, I love the run! Feel bad that I can't join the month long run in Texas - I did do some serious thinking and planning-- maybe next year!!