I have the lifetime PPA card and have used it frequently over the years. I generally use it as an over night park. I used to try to make the PPA parks my destination parks but that doesn't always work out. For example I am going to stop in Myrtle Beach (MB) for 5 nights on the way home in April. Five nights at the PPA park there works out to $245 sans taxes taking all the restrictions into consideration. For the same number of nights at one of the south MB parks it is $240 sans taxes. Since I have retired and snowbird I still use it for over night stays when I can but I don't make it a point to always seek out a PPA park. When I get tired and decide to stop if there is a PPA park handy...great. If not...still not a problem. Since I bought the card many years ago when they ran a special I have probably recovered the original outlay a long time ago. I have not tracked it because it makes no difference since I paid for the card and there are no refunds. But I can tell you that I have been in PPA parks and I have asked for the discount during the black out periods and have received it. Other times I have not. Anyway in your case I would buy it for one year and see if it works out for you. If not don't renew...simple as that. HTH