Why?  Boomers know their driving years are limited.  They want to be closer to the supplies they need.  They like the idea of walking to the grocery store. 

Boomers also want the neighborhood experience.  They don't want to be isolated in big houses surrounded by high mantenance lawns- away from the action. 

Their children also want to be in these easy going neighborhoods which seem more like miniature Mayberrys.  They want to know their neighbors and they want to interact with others daily.  Also the cost of gas and cars has increased significantly over the last few years, and they are growing tired of such expenses.

Read ABC's Special Report: Boomers moving closer to cities

We just made it through the "500 Year Flood" here in Nashville.  It's been a very rough weekend; probably one of the worst in my life.  The  Opryland Hotel is flooded and so is the Opry House.  The Franklin McDonalds was serving drive-through customers who were in boats, not cars.   130 year weather records were broken and we got about 28 percent of our yearly rainfall in only 36 hours.  So much for a dry April.

We were very lucky compared to a lot of  people who lost everything.  We're landlords and we only had three flooded basements, plus a few other headaches.

But my parents and I learned some very hard lessons.

1. Don't keep important papers in the basement.

I know our house has never flooded in the 50 years we've lived there, but there's always a first time. Sunday morning while the water was almost to my knees was not the time to search for my 84-year old Dad's latest will.  (We rescued it just in time)

2. Seven inches of rain in one day will get into your house, no matter what. We discovered the rain had come in through the basement drain in one of our rentals.  The good news was that two feet of  water went out through the drain at our house overnight, except for a few inches.

3. Turn the gas pilot light off just to be safe. Don't walk in the basement water if your electricity is off just in case the electricity should suddenly come back on.  You could be electrocuted if a faulty wire comes in contact with the water.

4. Water rises extremely fast. Our basement was dry at 8 AM.  In less than an hour it was almost up to my knees.  People were caught in the flood all over Davidson County because they didn't realize how fast it can happen.  10 people have died in Nashville.

5. Don't totally  believe flood plain maps. Houses were built in areas that haven't flooded in 100 years.  Some of those houses are now under water.  You can't be too careful with due diligence.

6.  Make sure your parents  do not take unnecessary chances. An elderly couple drowned in Belle Meade after their car was swept away.  They had been on their way to church.  Tell your parents to stay home unless they need to evacuate.

7. Your basement or house is taking on water fast.  What do you save?

When things started floating in my basement I knew I had to pick and choose quickly what I was going to save.  I went for the Heavenly Ham in the basement frig that we were going to have for Sunday dinner.  That turned out to be wise since we ended up eating a lot of very good ham sandwiches while the power was off. Sorry to say the 1920's Victrola with the rare Grand Ole Opry records had to go.  I'm not a country fan and it was too heavy.

8. Don't panic

Instead of worrying think about your next move.  We got on the phone with our maintenance man and worked out a plan for him to be first in line to buy a pump Monday morning.  He got one that could pump 4000 gallons per hour.  He had two of the three basements done by 1 PM.  Worry won't help, but working smart will.

Floods are difficult and can be deadly for you and your aging parents.  By planning ahead and learning from others who have been through them, you can avoid a lot of heartache and trouble.

Crazy Flood—Nashville Interstate flood

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… C: wait…

Will the new vaccines be safe or will they be considered as dangerous as the ones for the 1976 swine flu?

As we remember cases of a rare condition called guillain-barre syndrome were connected with the vaccines in 1976.

Many people refused to have the shots after the media started reporting problems.

The new vaccines are being developed in several places, but Vanderbilt  flu experts claims they have a successful one almost ready to go public.

Does this mean the vaccination will be safe?

There are still many questions which  need to be answered.  If people do not feel secure  with the shots there are probably lots of good measured reasons why.  After all, 1976 was a disaster if a lot of ways.

Will history repeat itself?   Will  matters be better this time around?

Or are we wise not to have the shots?

Get more answers at Flu experts gear up for pandemic of vaccine worry

Inventors are working on a GPS  device which will guide the elderly through supermarkets.

As people of all ages know, grocery shopping can be confusing for everyone, not just seniors.

But a GPS device that would guide seniors and give them more confidence as they grocery shop is an invention many of us will be anticipating.

Also underway are sensors for drawers and cabinets which will help seniors, and especially elderly  Alzheimer's patients, remember where they left things.  The senors will feed the information into a computer.

Frankly, I could use that right now.

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