You must not live someplace where basements are polular. The basement storage area is perfect for the wife's stuff.

Oh, what I would give for a basement....
It's the only thing you can't really have here. 
As strange as it may seem, the community I live in has them. Fully finished, no **** basements. My unit doesnt, but my brother used to when he lived down the road and the building across the street has em.
No flooding yet, except during the hurricanes, but that was to be expected. We are on the highest natural ridge south of 60, a whopping 42 feet above sea level. If I go 200 yards from my house, were back to about 12, lol.