I think you are letting emotion over ride logic. You should run the numbers. Do you ever happen to drive in that direction anyway. Even if Costco were 35 miles I would still join. Just the saving on tires makes it worth it for me. I would not go every week like I do now but I would go once a month and stock up and fill up.
The best Caribbean cruise deal I would find was on Costco.
I buy my tires every 5 years. I get mine from the little shop that only sells tires.
I buy a big screen TV when the current one breaks down. It has been 5 years and still going strong.
We don't eat meat. So no savings with that.
We don't drink dairy. So no savings with that.
We haven't had a big ticket purchase item in years.
Replacing my Honda with 200K+ miles is probably the next purchase.