The highways are mostly dead.

The old mega-gas station survived because of two things:

hardened concrete
fuel infrastructure

The Buc-ee’s is no longer a convenience store — it’s a fuel fortress and trade post.

Meanwhile, your cousin’s Costco controls:

hydroponics
bulk food storage
machine repair
scavenger logistics
population and labor

The two settlements need each other.

🏪 Costco Settlement

Role:
Industrial + food center

Population:
50-100+ People

Strengths:

Hydroponics
Water purification
Storage
Workshops
Medical supplies
Skilled labor

Weaknesses:

Huge food demand
Needs fuel and transport
Hard to defend fully

Think:

warehouse city-state

All Costco Locations in the US