You can still use the GPS in the States without the database. The major features are there - coastlines, big lakes etc but not the airfield data. If all you want it for is to help you get from A to B then it will still provide this facility. You can also load routes into it but of course you need the lat and longs.
The little brown 'FLIGHT GUIDE - AIRPORT AND FREQUENCY MANUAL' gives you all the airfield, VORTAC etc data you need. See <a href="http://www.flightguide.com." target="_blank">www.flightguide.com.</a>