Outdoor table top

[Gary Herrmann]

I'm making an umbrella table for swmbo. Base is done. I decided I would miter the top's edge boards for looks (like a picture frame). Now I'm getting a little concerned about strength. The mitered boards will be attached with pocket hole screws. The interior boards will also be attached with pocket hole screws (to those mitered boards that are perpendicular to them) leaving the mitered boards that are parallel to the interior boards only attached via the pocket hole screws via the miters. Whew, that was a mouthful.

Here's my question. I know I'll get a stronger top if I just edge glue the interior boards and mitered boards for a solid top rather than one with 1/8" gaps as I had been planning. The table is white oak. I know the gaps will help rain etc drain off, but will a solid top have a shorter life span than one with gaps? Warp more?

Thanks for your input.